Why Cuba will Not Contest Caribbean Baseball Cup

Havana, Nov 18 (ACN) — With its berth secured for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Cuba declined the option to participate in this year’s Caribbean Baseball Cup, which will give tickets for the world’s oldest regional multi-sport event.

Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS), announced the decision today at a press conference in the Adolfo Luque Hall of the Latin American Stadium.

The official explained that the Bahamas, host of the Caribbean tournament, has competitive infrastructure for only six teams, so those slots will be allocated to countries that still need to qualify for next year’s Central American and Caribbean Games.

Cuba automatically received its ticket to Santo Domingo 2026 along with Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Colombia, following the decision of the Pan American Baseball Confederation (Copabe–WBSC Americas) to directly grant qualification to the top five teams in the continental rankings.

That number of spots was originally expected to be awarded at the ill-fated first edition of the Americas Cup, which was canceled at the last minute by organizers in Panama this month.

It was noted that the tournament may be held in the second half of 2026 with the aim of assigning tickets to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.

Pérez Pardo also announced that Ciego de Ávila, champion of the most recent Cuban Elite Baseball League, will represent the island at the upcoming Caribbean Series in Venezuela.

The champion of the current National Series is expected to participate in the upcoming Champions League, while a team composed of players from the current season with potential for the World Baseball Classic will travel to the Americas Series in January in Panama.