Football in Cuba

Football in Cuba is run by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba.[1] The association administers the national teams, as well as the Campeonato Nacional.

Football in the Cuba
CountryCuba
Governing bodyAsociación de Fútbol de Cuba
National team(s)men's national team
Club competitions
International competitions

Football has been very popular among young people and the new generations in Cuba, being among two most popular national sports.[2][3]

History

The first recorded football match in Cuba was in 1901.[4] Football has struggled as sport in Cuba since Baseball is the number one sport in the country.[5] Since the 21st Century football has enjoyed a surge of popularity amongst the youth since Raúl Castro eased restrictions media, allowing international football to be televised starting with the 2010 World Cup.[6] [7] La Liga and particularly Real Madrid and Barcelona are popular amongst the youth.[8][9]

Professional football

Professional sports have been forbidden by the Cuban government since 1961, but in 2016, Maikel Reyes became the first Cuban to be allowed to sign a professional contract with a foreign team when he joined Mexican third-tier side Cruz Azul Premier.[10] Until then, Cuban footballers who played professionally had done so without approval of the country's football association and after fleeing the country.[11]

League system

Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba is national top league where usually 16 clubs are split into four groups of four.[12]

2019
Level League(s)/Division(s)
1 Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba
16 clubs

National team

Cuba has only qualified for the world cup once in 1938 and were eliminated in the quarter-finals.[13] They lost 8–0 to Sweden.[14]

Traditionally one of the weaker teams in CONCACAF has seen significant improvement qualifying for the Gold Cup, and reaching the quarter-finals in 2015 and 2017.[15][16]

Cuban professional players from abroad are recruited to improve the national football team.[17]

References
  1. Euan McTear (2015-11-13). "Cuba's route to football glory: a six-month training camp in North Korea | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. Pierce, Charles P. (20 July 2015). "Diplomatic Relations: The USMNT and Cuba Play Soccer in a Changing World".
  3. Costa, Brian (9 June 2015). "Why Baseball Is Losing Its Grip on Cuba" – via Wall Street Journal.
  4. "History of Cuba's football (soccer) 1907-1938". The Antique Football. 27 September 2022.
  5. "Baseball in Their Veins, but a New Ball at Their Feet". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  6. "Baseball is in Cuba's blood, but soccer is stealing its heart | GrindTV.com". October 2, 2016. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016.
  7. "Soccer Wins Over New Generation Of Fans In Cuba". NPR. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  8. Archibold, Randal C. (2 May 2012). "Soccer Gains in Cuba Where Baseball is King". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  9. Longman, Jeré (25 December 2014). "As cuba Opens the Worlds Sport May Take Hold". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  10. Cuban revolution: Cuba embraces pro soccer after years out in the cold - CNN
  11. "Wind of change ready to blow through Cuba". April 30, 2016.
  12. Hodges-Ramon, Luca (March 6, 2014). "The winds of change in Cuban football".
  13. "Hasta la victoria? Remembering Cuba's international soccer success and fall | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  14. "Goal.com World Cup History: 1938 | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  15. "Football gradually usurping baseball in Cuba". www.fifa.com.
  16. "Soccer's popularity continues to rise in Cuba". Los Angeles Times. March 13, 2016.
  17. Arnold, Jon (March 23, 2021). "Cuba Is Stocking Up on Overseas Players. What's the Goal?". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.


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