The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation This Sunday he expressed his rejection of the exclusion of Cuba of the Caribbean Series 2026, after the tournament venue was moved from Venezuela to Guadalajara, Mexicowhere it will be held from February 1 to 7. The entity described the decision as “disrespectful” and questioned the institutional management of the change, considering that there were no sporting or administrative reasons that justified the island’s departure from the event.
Through a statement published on the social networkThe change of scenario does not justify Cuba’s non-participation, which, furthermore, deserves and demands respectful treatment, especially in the case of such a sensitive situation for our sport.” The statement made clear the discomfort generated by a determination that, according to the Cuban leadership, breaks previously established agreements.
From Havana they recalled that the initial invitation to participate in the 2026 Caribbean Series occurred when Venezuela was the designated headquarters. However, they stressed that said invitation “was endorsed by the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC), governing body of the tournament,” which, in their opinion, gave it institutional validity beyond the host country.
Claims to the CBPC and the background of the change of headquarters
One of the most critical points of the Cuban statement was directed at the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation. The federation pointed out that “this entity has not maintained any communication with the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation about such an important decision, which undermines the established commitments and the design approved by our country to assume it.” For Cuba, the lack of dialogue aggravated a situation that they already considered delicate.
The change of venue was announced on Thursday by the CBPC itself, which confirmed Guadalajara as the new host of the tournament after approving the proposal presented by the Mexican ARCO League of the Pacific. In this way, the Mexican city will once again host the Caribbean Series, as already happened in 2018.
The modification occurred after the leagues of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic They communicated that they were not in a position to attend Caracas, their original headquarters, due to “external situations beyond their control.” This position was decisive for the CBPC to evaluate alternatives and resolve the transfer of the event.
In this context, the Cuban statement made reference to the growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela, which have intensified in recent months as a result of the military deployment ordered by Washington in the Caribbean. Although it did not delve into this aspect, the federation hinted that political and geopolitical factors influenced a decision that ended up directly affecting its participation.
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