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Cuba

Nickname(s)	Leones del Caribe (Lions of the Caribbean)
Association	Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach	Pablo Elier Sánchez
Captain	Arichel Hernández
Most caps	Yénier Márquez (126)
Top scorer	Lester Moré (30)
Home stadium	Estadio Pedro Marrero
FIFA code	CUB
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	167 (6 October 2022)[1]
Highest	46 (November – December 2006)
Lowest	182 (August 2017, March–May 2018)
First international
Cuba 3–1 Jamaica  (Havana, Cuba; 16 March 1930)
Biggest win
Cuba 11–0 Turks and Caicos Islands  (Havana, Cuba; 8 September 2018)
Biggest defeat
Sweden 8–0 Cuba  (Antibes, France; 12 June 1938)  Soviet Union 8–0 Cuba  (Moscow, Soviet Union; 24 July 1980)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 1938)
Best result	Quarter-finals (1938)
Gold Cup
Appearances	11 (first in 1971)
Best result	Fourth place (1971)
Medal record NAFC Championship 1947 Cuba Team 1949 Mexico Team CFU Caribbean Cup 2012 Antigua and Barbuda Team 1996 Trinidad and Tobago Team 1999 Trinidad and Tobago Team 2005 Barbados Team 1995 Cayman Islands and Jamaica Team 2007 Trinidad and Tobago Team 2010 Martinique Team

The Cuba national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Cuba) represents Cuba in men's international football and it is controlled by the Football Association of Cuba, The team's nickname is Leones del Caribe (Lions of Caribbean), The team represents all three FIFA, Caribbean Football Union and Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

They were the first Caribbean team to get to the World Cup Quarter finals – they did so in 1938. There, in the round of 16, they defeated Romania in a replay, 2–1, after drawing against them 3–3. They were then eliminated in the quarter-finals by Sweden, 8–0. Cuba has not returned to the World Cup since.

Cuba finished second in the Caribbean Cup in 1996, 1999 and 2005 and won the 2012 Caribbean Cup.

Cuba finished second in the North American Nations Cup in 1947 in which they hosted the tournament.

History

Early history

Cuba played its first international football match on 16 March 1930 at that year's Central American and Caribbean Games. They beat Jamaica (then a British colony) 3–1 in Havana. Four days later, they beat Honduras 7–0.[2] Cuba were managed by José Tapia, who remained in charge until after Cuba's 1938 World Cup campaign.

Cuba's first World Cup qualification campaign was for the 1934 World Cup in Italy. All of the CONCACAF entrants were placed in Group 11. The winner of a best-of-three tournament between the two weakest nations, Cuba and Haiti would produce a winner to play 1930 qualifiers Mexico in another round of best-of-three. The winner of that would play 1930 semi-finalists the United States of America for a place in the finals. All of the matches between Cuba and Haiti in the first round were staged at Parc Leconte in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 28, 1 and 4 January–February 1934. Cuba won the first match 3–1 with Mario Lopez opening from a penalty and Hector Socorro scoring the second. The second match was a 1–1 draw with Lopez equalising in the 85th minute. In the final match, Cuba won 6–0 with two Lopez goals, one from Hector Socorro and one from his brother Francisco.

The second round against Mexico consisted of three matches at Parque Necaxa in Mexico City. Its first match, on 4 March 1934, saw Mexico go 3–0 up with a hat-trick by Dionisio Mejia, his goals scored in the 12th, 14th and 16th minutes. Mario Lopez scored twice for Cuba with one in each half, but Mexico won 3–2. A week later, Mejia scored another hat-trick as Mexico won 5–0, and seven days later, Mexico won 4–1 after Lopez opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Mexico did not qualify, their 4–2 play-off defeat to the United States was held in Rome during the finals, as the two teams had forgotten to stage it earlier.

1938–2000

The decision to stage the 1938 World Cup in France was poorly received in the Americas, who had hoped for it to return to South America after the 1934 World Cup in Italy. All nations in South America except Brazil withdrew, and all CONCACAF nations except Cuba, thus the two qualified by default.

The tournament was held as a straight knock-out tournament of 16 nations. Cuba were drawn to play their first-ever World Cup finals match against Romania (who were making their third finals appearance) at Stade du T.O.E.C. in Toulouse, on 5 June 1938. Silviu Bindea put Romania ahead after 35 minutes and Hector Socorro equalised nine minutes later. With three minutes remaining, Tomás Fernández gave Cuba the lead, but within a minute Iuliu Baratky forced extra time with a Romanian equaliser. Romania went 3–2 up in extra-time by Ștefan Dobay's goal on 105 minutes, but Juan Tuñas equalised for Cuba with three minutes of extra-time remaining.

The replay was held at the same stadium, on 9 June. This was at the same time as Switzerland's 4–2 replay win over Germany. Dobay put Romania 1–0 up at half-time with a 35th-minute goal, but in the second half Cuba equalised through Socorro in the 51st minute. Six minutes later, Carlos Oliviera scored the winning goal and it ended 2–1. In the quarter-final, Cuba lost 8–0 to Sweden at Stade du Fort Carre in Antibes, on 12 June. Sweden's Tore Keller and Gustav Wetterström each scored hat-tricks.[3]

The NAFC Championship 1949 served as CONCACAF's qualification group for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. Cuba, the United States of America and Mexico played each other twice in a tournament held in Mexico City in September 1949. The top two would qualify. Cuba came third and did not qualify, their only point was gained from their second match, a 1–1 draw against the United States on 14 September. Cuba did not compete in World Cup qualification again until 1966, already under Castro's regime. They returned to participation in qualification for 1978, but the 1982 qualifiers represented a significant breakthrough- Cuba reached the final round of qualifying, and were only two points short of reaching the 1982 World Cup. In recent years, Cuban football has seen an improvement in results.

2000–present

They reached the quarter-finals of the 2003 Gold Cup (where they were beaten by the United States) 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 and later battled it out for a 1–1 draw in Costa Rica.

During the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Cuba faced Antigua and Barbuda and the match ended in a 3–3 draw. Later in Pedro Marreo, Cuba won 4–1 to advance to the semi-final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. Cuba was with the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala. Cuba finished in the fourth place with only one victory against Guatemala 2–1 with a goal scored by Aliannis Urgellés. They finished in third place in the 2010 Caribbean Cup to take a place in the 2011 Gold Cup. In 2012, Cuba won the Caribbean Cup for the first time.

For the 2014 World Cup, the Cuban team qualified directly to the Third round as one of the six highest ranked teams and were placed in Group C with Honduras, Panama, and Canada. Although the Cuban team had several close games, they ended their qualification process with one draw and five defeats (losing home and away to Canada and Honduras and drawing to Panama in Havana in their final game after losing in Panama City). Their only goal of the qualifying campaign came from Alberto Gomes against Panama in the final game of the group stage.

Defection and economic migration by Cuban athletes

As well as Cuban athletes in other sports, a number of football players have made the move to the United States in recent years. During the 2002 Gold Cup in Los Angeles, two Cuban players Rey Ángel Martínez and Alberto Delgado chose to remain in the United States. Striker Maykel Galindo did so during the 2005 Gold Cup. Two more, Osvaldo Alonso and Lester More did so during the 2007 Gold Cup.

In 2008, defections occurred during two separate tournaments held in the United States. In March, seven players from the U-23 national football, including Yeniel Bermúdez, Yordany Álvarez and Yendry Díaz defected during the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament while the team was based in Tampa, FL. In October, two days before the country's World Cup Qualifier versus the US, Reynier Alcántara and Pedro Faife walked away from the team's hotel near Washington, D.C.. During the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Yosniel Mesa defected while the team was in Charlotte, North Carolina.[4] During the 2015 Gold Cup, forward Keiler García defected to the United States before the team's first match against Mexico in Chicago.[5] In September 2019, five players (Yordan Santa Cruz, Andy Baquero, David Urgelles, Orlendis Benítez and Alejandro Portal) defected to Canada during the 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League before and after a match against Canada.[6][7]

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2021

2022

2023

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

• The following players were called up for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League matches.[8]
• Match dates: 3, 5, 10 and 12 June 2022.
• Opposition:  Guadeloupe,  Barbados and  Antigua and Barbuda (twice)
• Caps and goals correct as of: 12 June 2022, after the match against  Antigua and Barbuda

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
21	1GK	Nelson Johnston	(1990-02-25) 25 February 1990 (age 32)	14	0	Real Sociedad
12	1GK	Elier Pozo	(1995-01-28) 28 January 1995 (age 27)	4	0	Pinar del Río
1	1GK	Sandy Sánchez	(1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 28)	26	1	Atlético Pantoja
4	2DF	Cavafe	(1999-04-25) 25 April 1999 (age 23)	10	1	FC Dornbirn
13	2DF	Jorge Corrales	(1991-05-20) 20 May 1991 (age 31)	42	1	Tulsa
5	2DF	Dariel Morejón	(1998-12-21) 21 December 1998 (age 23)	25	0	Villa Clara
6	2DF	Yosel Piedra	(1994-03-27) 27 March 1994 (age 28)	31	1	San Carlos
2	2DF	Darío Ramos	(1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 (age 26)	4	0	Artemisa
3	2DF	Osniel Ramos	(2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 20)	4	0	Artemisa
7	3MF	Rolando Abreu	(1992-05-15) 15 May 1992 (age 30)	22	0	Santiago de Cuba
14	3MF	Karel Espino	(2001-10-27) 27 October 2001 (age 20)	22	1	Comunicaciones
10	3MF	Arichel Hernández (captain)	(1993-09-20) 20 September 1993 (age 29)	35	7	Universidad O&M
8	3MF	Davide Incerti	(2002-06-22) 22 June 2002 (age 20)	7	0	Olbia
22	3MF	Asmel Núñez	(1992-05-03) 3 May 1992 (age 30)	6	0	Ciego de Ávila
15	3MF	Yunior Pérez	(2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 (age 21)	11	0	Santa Lucía
20	3MF	Dairon Reyes	(2003-09-18) 18 September 2003 (age 19)	10	1	Inter Miami
16	4FW	Christian Flores	(1999-04-06) 6 April 1999 (age 23)	1	0	Santiago de Cuba
11	4FW	Onel Hernández	(1993-02-01) 1 February 1993 (age 29)	8	3	Norwich City
18	4FW	Yasniel Matos	(2002-03-29) 29 March 2002 (age 20)	11	0	Municipal
23	4FW	Luis Paradela	(1997-01-21) 21 January 1997 (age 25)	26	8	Santos de Guápiles
19	4FW	Willian Pozo-Venta	(1997-08-27) 27 August 1997 (age 25)	9	2	Notodden
9	4FW	Maikel Reyes	(1993-03-04) 4 March 1993 (age 29)	35	7	Pinar del Río
17	4FW	Yasnay Rivero	(1991-07-11) 11 July 1991 (age 31)	0	0	Artemisa

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Cuba squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
DF	Modesto Méndez	(1998-01-06) 6 January 1998 (age 24)	5	0	Fort Lauderdale CF	v.  Belize, 27 March 2022
MF	York González	(2002-02-14) 14 February 2002 (age 20)	3	0	Camaguey	v.  Nicaragua; 13 November 2021
FW	Marcel Hernández	(1989-07-11) 11 July 1989 (age 33)	25	10	Alajuelense	v.  Belize, 27 March 2022
FW	Joel Apezteguía	(1983-12-17) 17 December 1983 (age 38)	2	0	Tre Fiori	v.  Nicaragua; 13 November 2021
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player retired from the national team. SUS Player is serving suspension. WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Previous squads

Player records

As of 19 November 2019[9]

Players in bold are still active with Cuba

Competitive record

World Cup record

Cuba's FIFA World Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Outcome	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Not a FIFA member										Not a FIFA member
1934	Did not qualify										2nd	6	2	1	3	13	14
1938	Quarter-finals	7th	3	1	1	1	5	12	Squad		Bye
1950	Did not qualify										3rd	4	0	1	3	3	11
1954	Not accepted[10]										Not accepted
1958	Did not enter										Did not enter
1962
1966	Did not qualify										3rd	4	1	1	2	3	5
1970	Not accepted[10]										Not accepted
1974	Did not enter										Did not enter
1978	Did not qualify										Playoff	5	2	2	1	7	5
1982											5th	9	4	3	2	11	8
1986	Did not enter										Did not enter
1990	Did not qualify										2nd	2	0	1	2	1	2
1994	Withdrew										Withdrew
1998	Did not qualify										4th	10	4	1	5	17	18
2002											Playoff	8	2	5	1	7	3
2006											Playoff	4	2	2	0	8	4
2010											4th	8	3	0	5	13	21
2014											4th	6	0	1	5	1	10
2018											Playoff	2	0	2	0	1	1
2022											3rd	4	2	0	2	7	3
2026	To be determined										To be determined
Total	Quarter-finals	1/22	3	1	1	1	5	12	—		—	72	22	20	31	92	105

Cuba's World Cup record
First Match	Cuba 3–3 Romania  ( 5 June 1938; Toulouse, France)
Biggest Win	Cuba 2–1 Romania  ( 9 June 1938; Toulouse, France)
Biggest Defeat	Cuba 0–8 Sweden  ( 12 June 1938; Antibes, France)
Best Result	7th place at the 1938 FIFA World Cup
Worst Result	N/A

CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup record

CONCACAF Championship
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter
1965	Withdrew
1967	Did not qualify
1969	Did not enter
1971	Fourth place	4th	5	1	2	2	5	7
1973	Did not enter
1977	Did not qualify
1981	Final round	5th	5	1	2	2	4	8
1985	Did not enter
1989	Did not qualify
CONCACAF Gold Cup
1991	Withdrew
1993	Did not enter
1996	Did not qualify
1998	Group stage	10th	2	0	0	2	2	10
2000	Did not qualify
2002	Group stage	11th	2	0	1	1	0	1
2003	Quarter-finals	8th	3	1	0	2	2	8
2005	Group stage	12th	3	0	0	3	3	9
2007	Group stage	12th	3	0	1	2	3	9
2009	Withdrew
2011	Group stage	12th	3	0	0	3	1	16
2013	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	0	3	6	13
2015	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	0	3	1	14
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	0	17
2021	Did not qualify
Total	11/26	13/27	37	5	6	26	27	112

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Year	Division	Group	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	P/R	Rank
2019−20	A	A	4	0	0	4	0	18		12th
2022–23	B	A	To be determined
Total			4	0	0	4	0	18	12th

CFU Caribbean Cup

CFU Championship and Caribbean Cup									Qualification record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Did not enter								Did not enter
1979
1981
1983
1985
1988
1989
1990
1991	Withdrew								Withdrew
1992	Fourth place	5	2	2	1	4	2		2	2	0	0	8	0
1993	Did not enter								Did not enter
1994	Withdrew								Withdrew
1995	Third place	5	3	0	2	9	6	3	3	0	0	15	0
1996	Second place	5	3	1	1	7	2	1	1	0	0	4	0
1997	Did not enter								Did not enter
1998	Did not qualify								2	1	1	0	4	3
1999	Second place	5	4	0	1	9	3	3	3	0	0	13	2
2001	Fourth place	5	1	2	2	5	7	3	3	0	0	7	1
2005	Second place	3	2	0	1	5	2	4	3	1	0	6	1
2007	Third place	5	2	1	2	7	6	6	5	1	0	24	2
2008	Fourth place	5	2	2	1	7	4	3	2	1	0	14	2
2010	Third place	5	3	1	1	5	4	3	1	2	0	7	5
2012	Champions	5	4	0	1	5	2	3	1	1	1	6	2
2014	Fourth place	4	1	2	1	5	5	Qualified as Champions
2017	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	2	4
Total	Champions	52	27	11	14	68	43	31	28	8	2	105	21

NAFC Championship record

NAFC Championship
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1947	Runners-up	2	1	0	1	6	5
1949	Third place	4	0	1	3	3	11
Total	Runners-up	6	1	1	4	9	16

CCCF Championship

CCCF Championship
Year	Result	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1941	Did not enter
1943
1946
1948
1951
1953
1955	Seventh place	6	1	0	5	3	17
1957	Fifth place	4	0	0	4	1	11
1960	Fifth place	4	1	0	3	5	12
1961	Fifth place	4	0	0	4	2	9
Total	Fifth place	18	2	0	16	11	49

Honours

Major competitions

• FIFA World Cup
  • Quarter-finals (1): 1938

Minor competitions

• Pan American Games
  • Runners-up (1): 1979 San Juan
  • Third place (2): 1971 Cali, 1991 Havana
• Central American and Caribbean Games
  • Winners (1): 1930 Havana
• North American Nations Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1947
• CFU Championship / Caribbean Cup
  • Winners (1): 2012[11]
  • Runners-up (3): 1996, 1999, 2005
  • Third place (3): 1995, 2007, 2010

See also

• Cuba national under-20 football team
• Cuba national under-17 football team

References

External links

• Cuba at FIFA.com

На других языках

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- [en] Cuba national football team

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[ru] Сборная Кубы по футболу

Сборная Кубы по футболу — национальная футбольная сборная, представляющая Кубу на международных матчах по футболу. Основана в 1930 году. Контролируется и управляется Ассоциацией футбола Кубы.

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