CUBA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM

The 'Cuba national football team' is the national team of Cuba and is controlled by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba. They were the first Caribbean team to make the World Cup, which they did in 1938. There, they defeated Romania in a replay 2-1 after tying them 3-3. They were then eliminated in the second round by Sweden, 8-0. The Cuban team has not returned to the World Cup since. Football (soccer) is not followed as strongly in Cuba as it is in many other countries, as baseball is the national sport. Nevertheless, recent showings in the Caribbean region may signal a rise in the team's future.
Cuba finished second in the Caribbean Cup in 1996, 1999 and 2005.

Contents

History

Early History

Post-war history

World Cup record

Gold Cup record

Defection By Cuban Athletes

Current Squad

References

History

Early History

Cuba has a long-standing football tradition, although the sport has never been as popular there as baseball, and were early participants in World Cup qualifying. Cuba were given a walkover into the 1938 World Cup and reached the second round by beating Romania.

Post-war history

The post-war years were not so kind to Cuban football. They participated in the 1950 qualifiers, but it was not until the 1966 qualifiers that they would again participate.
They returned to participation in qualification in the 1978 series, but the 1982 qualifiers represented a significant breakthrough- Cuba reached the final round of qualifying, and were only 2 points short of reaching the 1982 World Cup.
In recent years, Cuban football has seen an improvement in fortunes. They reached the Quarter-finals of the 2003 Gold Cup (where they were beaten by the USA) by defeating Canada 2-0 in the Group Stage.
During the 2006 World Cup qualifiers Cuba faced Costa Rica and were only eliminated on away goals. They held Costa Rica to a draw in Havana 2-2 nad later battled it out for 1-1 draw in Costa Rica.

World Cup record

★ 1930 - ''Did not enter''

★ 1934 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1938 - Second Round

★ 1950 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1954 - ''Entry not accepted by FIFA''

★ 1958 to 1962 - ''Did not enter''

★ 1966 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1970 - ''Entry not accepted by FIFA''

★ 1974 - ''Did not enter''

★ 1978 to 1982 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1986 - ''Did not enter''

★ 1990 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1994 - ''Withdrew''

★ 1998 to 2006 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 2010 - '' Qualifying underway ''

Gold Cup record

★ 1991 - ''Withdrew''

★ 1993 - ''Did not enter''

★ 1996 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 1998 - Round 1

★ 2000 - ''Did not qualify''

★ 2002 - Round 1

★ 2003 - Quarterfinals

★ 2005 - Round 1

★ 2007 - Round 1

Defection By Cuban Athletes

Many times Cuban players hoping to leave Cuba defect to the United States. Such defections are not a new occurrence. Cuban athletes - most notably baseball players, including pitchers Jose Ariel Contreras and brothers Livan and Orlando Hernandez - have defected from the country while in international competitions outside Cuba.
Many football players have also defected. During the 2002 Gold Cup in Los Angeles, Cuban players Alberto Delgado and Rey Ángel Martínez defected to the United States. In the 2005 Gold Cup, Cuban striker Maykel Galindo also defected. In the 2007 Gold Cup, two Cuban players, striker Lester Moré and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso defected. Cuban player defects

Current Squad

Head coach: Raúl González Triana

References