Cuba still expected to play in WBC after visas for 8 traveling party members denied

Story byCuba still expected to play in WBC after visas for 8 traveling party members deniedBob Nightengale, USA TODAYThu, February 26, 2026 at 3:34 AM UTC·1 min read

The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation is upset that eight members of its delegation have been denied visas to enter the United States for the World Baseball Classic, but despite threats, MLB officials fully expect Cuba to play in the WBC beginning next week.

The entire Cuban team, including the coaching staff, all received visas, according to WBC officials. Cuba, which finished tied for third in the 2023 WBC, is scheduled to open tournament play March 6 against Panama in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Juan Reinaldo Perez Pardo, president of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation, and Carlos del Pino Munoz, the organization’s secretary general, are among the eight members of the traveling party whose visas were denied, according to Reuters.

The visa issues are tied to the tightening of U.S. immigration laws under the Trump administration, which require specialized licensing for Cuban team members and officials to enter the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Pitcher: David BednarPitcher: Matthew BoydPitcher: Mason MillerPitcher: Nolan McLeanPitcher: Clayton KershawPitcher: Brad KellerPitcher: Griffin JaxPitcher: Clay HolmesPitcher: Garrett Cleavinger1 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: David Bednar1 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: David Bednar2 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Matthew Boyd3 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Mason Miller4 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Nolan McLean5 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw6 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Brad Keller7 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Griffin Jax8 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Clay Holmes9 / 9

Team USA World Baseball Classic roster: Meet the squad

Pitcher: Garrett Cleavinger

Last summer, a Venezuelan baseball team of 15- and 16-year olds was scheduled to play in the Little League Senior World Series in South Carolina, but abandoned plans when it was denied visas to enter the United States.

Team Cuba is currently on a four-game tour of Nicaragua and is scheduled to travel to Phoenix to play exhibition games early next week against the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds. It will then travel to Puerto Rico to begin play in the WBC.

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Cuba has advanced out of pool play in each of the previous five WBC tournaments, and finished runner-up to Japan in the inaugural WBC in 2006.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cuba WBC traveling party members have visas denied: What it means

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