The Cuban Baseball Federation has recently unveiled a preliminary roster of 35 players selected to form the national team set to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as reported by journalist Francys Romero.
Through a post on Facebook, Romero revealed that several players on the list have already been contacted as part of Cuba's early strategic planning for the premier international tournament.
The training regimen is scheduled to begin on January 11 in Havana, where the coaching staff will assess the physical and competitive readiness of the players chosen.
Following this, the team is expected to travel to Nicaragua in mid-February to establish a training base and engage in exhibition games as part of their competitive preparation.
The team's itinerary also includes a move to Arizona, where the Cuban squad will participate in two exhibition games during Spring Training, competing against teams from the professional baseball circuit.
This preliminary selection represents a crucial step for Cuba in assembling its team, as the federation seeks to secure talent both domestically and internationally amid a backdrop of high expectations, notable absences, and intricate negotiations.
Key Details
The groups for the 2026 World Baseball Classic are as follows:
- Group A (San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, Colombia
- Group B (Houston, Texas): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Brazil
- Group C (Tokyo, Japan): Japan, South Korea, Australia, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei
- Group D (Miami, Florida): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua
Critical tournament dates:
- Commencement of the tournament: March 5 (Group B, in Tokyo)
- Start of the remaining groups: March 6
- Quarterfinals: March 13 and 14 (Houston and Miami)
- Semifinals: March 15 and 16 (Miami)
- Final: March 17 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, the same venue where Japan claimed victory in March 2023.
Cuba's World Baseball Classic 2026 Participation
When will Cuba start their training for the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
Cuba's training is set to commence on January 11, 2026, in Havana.
Where will the Cuban team travel for additional training and exhibition games?
The Cuban team is planning to travel to Nicaragua for training and exhibition games, followed by a move to Arizona for further exhibition matches during Spring Training.