The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) announced on Tuesday that it will not be participating in the Caribbean Baseball Cup, a regional tournament organized by WBSC Americas. The decision arises from both registration costs and infrastructure issues at the event's venue, which this year is located in the Bahamas.
According to a Facebook post by journalist Duanys Hernández, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, the president of the FCB, stated at a press conference that the decision is primarily due to "economic reasons." At a time when Cuban sports are enduring one of their most severe financial and structural crises, the national sport is plagued by deteriorating facilities, a shortage of resources, and a constant loss of talent to other countries.
Pérez Pardo elaborated that hosting the tournament in the Bahamas would have been financially challenging for Cuba, with costs amounting to $65 per day for each player. This expense is unsustainable for a federation increasingly constrained by financial limitations.
Additionally, the Bahamas only has one stadium, which limited participation to six teams, leading WBSC Americas to allocate spots based on ranking.
Secured Spot for Santo Domingo 2026
The official emphasized that Cuba's absence is also justified because the country has already secured its place in the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. "If we weren’t already qualified, we would attend regardless of the cost," he asserted.
The FCB had suggested conducting two qualifying tournaments instead of allocating slots by ranking, but WBSC Americas rejected this proposal.
Cuba's 2026 International Schedule
Despite missing out on the Caribbean Cup, the federation announced Cuba's participation in other international events:
- January 23: Americas Series in Panama, featuring players from the National Series and pre-selected players for the World Baseball Classic.
- 2026 Caribbean Series (Venezuela): Ciego de Ávila, the Elite League champion, will attend.
- Champions League (April 2026): The champion of the 64th National Series will participate.
A Reflection of Cuban Baseball's Decline
Cuba's withdrawal from the Caribbean Baseball Cup highlights the financial and institutional fragility of sports on the island. For decades, the national team was an undeniable powerhouse in the region, but now the country lacks basic resources, loses players at an alarming rate, and avoids international tournaments due to financial constraints.
In a landscape where professional baseball is thriving across the continent, Cuba—once a beacon of excellence—continues to fall behind, ensnared in a crisis that its federation struggles to manage.
Key Concerns About Cuban Baseball's Future
Why is Cuba not participating in the Caribbean Baseball Cup?
Cuba is not participating due to high registration costs and limited infrastructure at the event's venue in the Bahamas, coupled with the country's current economic struggles.
What is the financial situation of Cuban sports?
Cuban sports are facing a severe financial and structural crisis, characterized by deteriorating facilities, resource shortages, and a continuous loss of talent to other countries.