Cuban Baseball Team Will Play in World Classic Despite U.S. Visa Rejections

Cuba's national baseball team will participate in the World Baseball Classic even though the U.S. denied visas to eight delegation members. The Cuban Baseball Federation called the visa denials discriminatory but said they won't withdraw from the tournament they've competed in since it began.

Cuba’s national baseball team will move forward with plans to participate in the World Baseball Classic tournament, even after the United States rejected visa applications for eight members of their delegation.

The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation announced late Saturday that they will not pull out of the international competition despite what they called unfair treatment by U.S. immigration officials.

“We reiterate the discriminatory, politicized, and unethical nature of the decision to deny visas to eight members of our delegation, but we will not withdraw from an event in which we have participated since its inception,” the federation stated.

The visa rejections came on Wednesday amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Cuba, as Washington has implemented what amounts to an oil embargo against the Caribbean nation, worsening fuel shortages and power outages across the island.

Most of those denied entry were support personnel, including Cuba’s baseball federation president and secretary general. However, the group also included pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo, who was a standout pitcher during his professional playing career.

According to the Cuban federation, U.S. officials justified the visa denials by claiming Cuba has not cooperated with American immigration enforcement efforts. Cuban authorities dispute this explanation. The U.S. embassy in Havana has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Cuba is now preparing for the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, which serves as baseball’s equivalent to soccer’s World Cup. Their opening game is set for Friday in Puerto Rico, which is U.S. territory.

Before the tournament begins, the Cuban squad will face Major League Baseball teams in two exhibition matches at spring training facilities in Arizona this week.

Cuba dominated international baseball competition during the sport’s amateur era, capturing three consecutive Olympic gold medals between 1992 and 2004.

The island nation has been a regular participant in the World Baseball Classic since 2006, when the tournament became a professional competition featuring MLB players. In the most recent tournament held in 2023, Cuba advanced to the semifinals before falling to the United States.