HAVANA – Cuba’s women’s national volleyball team has been denied the opportunity to play in a tournament in Puerto Rico, following new visa restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The Cuban Volleyball Federation said last week that the team of 12 athletes, umpire and several coaches had been denied a visa request and would not be able to attend the tournament later this month.
“I train every day, so the disappointment is enormous. Everyday training leads to and dedicated to this,” National Team player Laura Suarez told The Associated Press. “It’s a real shame that we can’t compete, and that’s what I’ve been preparing for.
Cuba was scheduled to play in the North Seca Women’s Final Four Tournament in the Manati in Puerto Rico. The tournament will include Puerto Rico, Mexico and Costa Rica, with IT awarding ranking points for Volleyball Nations League qualifying rounds.
“We were focused on competition because it’s right there,” said Dayana MartÃnez, another player. “When you arrive at the embassy and get rejected, the competition will have a big impact on us as it gives us points to improve our rankings.”
Cuban team coach Wilfredo Robinson said the decision means his team is likely to miss the international league.
“The competition gives points to each game and at the end it all increases,” Robinson said. “There’s another tournament in September. If you need to achieve 80 or 100 points, you can’t do that.”
The US added Cuba to its list of 12 countries with restrictions on entering the US or its territory, which are valid from early June. This includes citizens from Afghanistan, the Republic of the Congo, Iran, Venezuela and other countries.
“Visa denials are part of the list of racist and xenophobia for visa-restricted visa-restricted,” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote in his X account.
In a message sent to The Associated Press, the US Embassy in Cuba cannot comment on specific cases in accordance with its privacy policy, but said that directives have been implemented to secure borders and protect the US community and citizens.
Cuba’s women’s national team won consecutive World Championships in 1994 and 1998. He also won three Olympic golds at Barcelona in 1992 and 1996 at the Sydney 2000.
The US measures could affect Cuban athletes who rely on international competition, including the major championships scheduled for 2028 in Los Angeles and the American soil to qualify for the upcoming Olympics.
