In Cuba, baseball is more than a sport. It is our passion, our history, and our pride.
For decades, Cuba dominated the Baseball World Cup (originally the Amateur World Series). The numbers are staggering: 25 world titles between 1939 and 2005. That is 22 more championships than the next closest nation. We won 25 of the 39 gold medals available in the tournament's history. It was an era of absolute dominance.
But when the World Baseball Classic (WBC) arrived in 2006, the landscape changed. Professional players from MLB could now represent their countries, and Cuba faced new challenges.
Cuba's WBC journey:
· 2006: We reached the final, losing a heartbreaker to Japan. It remains our best result, a silver medal on the world's biggest stage.
· 2009, 2013, 2017: We advanced to the second round in each edition, showing resilience against stacked professional rosters.
· 2023: A historic run. We fought our way to the semifinals, falling to the United States in a thrilling game.
· 2026: A tough moment. For the first time, we did not advance past the opening round.
Despite never winning the WBC, seven Cuban players have been named to the All-World Baseball Classic Team, including legends like Yuli Gurriel and Yoenis Céspedes.
The "Team Asere" has always played with heart. We may not have the resources of other nations, but we have something more powerful: pasión.
Cuban baseball is a story of talent, sacrifice, and an unbreakable love for the game.
What is your favorite Cuban baseball memory? 👇