Cuba has officially registered a delegation of 504 athletes for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, as confirmed by the closing of the registration schedule last Monday.
This number surpasses the 494 athletes Cuba sent to the San Salvador 2023 games, marking one of the largest groups the island has assembled for this regional competition in recent years.
The Games will be held from July 24 to August 8 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, bringing together nations from the region to compete in 40 sports. Cuba will participate in 42 disciplines and 356 of the 497 events scheduled.
A Slight Adjustment in Numbers
While the official count lists 504 athletes, José Antonio Miranda Carrera, the General Director of High Performance at INDER, had previously announced on July 2 on the Mesa Redonda that the number was slightly different: 506 athletes—267 men and 232 women—across 37 sports and 43 disciplines.
The discrepancy between these figures is due to the administrative process itself.
According to JIT on Monday, "the schedule set by the organizers has closed, although the finalization of the rosters will still go through technical meetings prior to the start of activities in each sport."
Regardless, Miranda Carrera emphasized the significance of the number. "The first major achievement is having qualified 506 athletes across 37 sports and 43 disciplines, surpassing the delegation from San Salvador 2023," he stated.
Overcoming Challenges Amid Crisis
Miranda Carrera acknowledged that assembling over 500 qualified athletes was no easy feat. "Reaching 506 qualifiers has been an enormous challenge from competitive, logistical, financial, and material perspectives," he declared, attributing the difficulties to the U.S. embargo.
Among the specific limitations, Cuba was unable to participate in the swimming and open water qualifiers, which would have allowed them to exceed 520 athletes. Only four swimmers—Vladimir Hernández, Yadiel Estrada, Laurent Estrada, and Andrea Becali—secured spots through automatic slots from the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (COSADO).
INDER maintains between 900 and 1,000 athletes in the national preselection, of which 221 are returning from the San Salvador 2023 delegation.
Striving for Gold in the Medal Count
Cuba finished third in San Salvador 2023, with 74 golds, 59 silvers, and 63 bronzes (196 medals in total), behind Mexico (134 golds) and Colombia (87 golds). For Santo Domingo, the official goal is to repeat and surpass that podium finish.
Miranda Carrera specified the aim is to secure around 68 gold medals, although he noted that "from the 25th onward, we have the opportunity for medal options every day on the competitive calendar," with the last three days of the event concentrating the most titles for the Cuban delegation.
Beyond the regional medal tally, the Games carry added strategic importance: 19 of the 40 sports offer qualifying spots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, making Santo Domingo a crucial step in Cuba's path to Los Angeles 2028.
Flag Bearers, Boxing, and the Return of Soccer
Cuba's flag bearers for Santo Domingo will be Leyanis Pérez and Julio César La Cruz, designated in May. Pérez, a world champion in triple jump, defended her indoor title in Toruń, Poland, in March 2026.
La Cruz, a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world heavyweight boxing champion, retained his world title in the Bahamas in December 2024.
Cuban boxing secured 13 spots—seven male divisions and six female—after the qualifying round held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in March 2026.
One of the most notable developments is the return of Cuban men's soccer to the Central American Games, absent since 2014.
The team automatically qualified following Jamaica's withdrawal from their qualifying match and was placed in Group B alongside Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Their first matches will be on July 30 against Guatemala, August 1 against Mexico, and August 3 against Venezuela.
Key Insights into Cuba's Participation in the Central American Games
How many athletes is Cuba sending to the Central American Games?
Cuba has registered 504 athletes for the Central American and Caribbean Games, one of its largest delegations in recent years for this event.
What challenges did Cuba face in assembling its delegation?
Cuba faced significant challenges in assembling its delegation due to competitive, logistical, financial, and material difficulties, exacerbated by the U.S. embargo.
What are Cuba's goals for the Central American Games?
Cuba aims to secure around 68 gold medals and hopes to repeat or surpass its third-place finish from the San Salvador 2023 Games.