Havana, Dec. – The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) issued a statement this Sunday in which it describes its exclusion from the upcoming Caribbean Series, set to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, in February 2026, as disrespectful.
Cuba had been invited by the original host, Venezuela, with the endorsement of the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC), the governing body of the tournament, but following the recent change of venue, the island was left out of the regional competition.
The statement points out that the CBPC "has NOT held any communication with the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation regarding such an important decision, which undermines the commitments established and the plan approved by our country to participate."
The 2026 Caribbean Series had been assigned to Caracas, but the leagues of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, full members of the CBPC, declined to attend the event if that venue remained, citing "external situations beyond their control."
Given that situation, the event was reassigned to the Mexican city where the Charros de Jalisco play in the Arco de Pacífico League, which will now organize the tournament—one that Cuba helped found in 1949.
The FCBS's message concludes that "the change of venue does not justify Cuba’s exclusion, which moreover deserves and demands respectful treatment, especially given how sensitive this situation is for our sport."
Information provided by the Cuban News Agency (ACN)
