The team that must represent Cuba in the next World Baseball Classic (WBC, for its acronym in English) could play two friendly matches against teams from the Major Leagues prior to the start of the tournament, if you ultimately receive the necessary license for your participation.
The possibility began to be discussed this Wednesday, when the calendar for the 2026 preseason of the Major League teams was announced, in which these friendly matches were included, according to a note published on the website mlb.com.
Some reporters in the Dominican Republic say the Baseball National Team is not shown in this calendar, likely because their exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers will be on March 3-4 in the Dominican Republic. pic.twitter.com/xTPDPhwNv0
— MariaSportsMas (@MariaSportsMas) November 6, 2025
The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) It is still waiting for the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to issue the permits so that MLB can process the official invitation to the island team.
It is not the first time that Cuba has had to wait longer than other nations for its participation in the fair to be confirmed; and several media outlets, citing sources close to the negotiations, indicate that this step could be completed before the end of the year.
Last September, the FCBS issued a statement in which it expressed that Cuba was the victim of “unfair, unequal and politically motivated treatment” due to the delay in processing, despite the fact that MLB had requested the license “with sufficient time in advance.”
Days later, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, the highest baseball authority on the island, was optimistic about the possibility of a happy outcome and confirmed that the team’s preparation strategy for the tournament was maintained.
Rivals on the horizon
Journalist Francys Romero announced that Cuba’s presumed rivals in the friendly matches planned in Arizona would be the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds, on March 3 and 4, respectively.
In the most recent editions of the WBC, the Cuban teams have started their calendar in Asia, so the usual previous preparation clashes have been carried out against professional teams from that geographical region.
For the new edition of the contest, Cuba was placed in Group A, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where in addition to the local team, the novenas from Canada, Panama and Colombia will enter.
According to the released calendar, the troop that Germán Mesa will direct is scheduled to premiere on March 6 with the canaleros as opponents.
This route implies, if the OFAC license obstacle is finally resolved, that the Cuban players will travel first to the United States to play friendly games, and then to the headquarters of their group.
It remains to be seen how the process of granting visas for the entire delegation flows, an issue about which the Cuban authorities have shown concern, taking into account the refusals or delays that have made it impossible for athletes and managers to participate in competitions and events organized on US territory.
