USA Soccer Invades Cuba

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

The United States Men’s Soccer Team leaves today for Havana, Cuba, the first time the national team has played there since 1947. Cuba has been under an American embargo since 1962, and travel to the island is extremely difficult for Americans due to US Government restrictions.

“I don’t think any of this is lost on the players. They understand completely the nature of our relationship with Cuba. But their focus is on a different part of the trip and that’s making sure we win the game.” — Sunil Gulati, president, United States Soccer Federation (Source)

No US players are expected to defect to Cuba, however, the Miami Herald reported that last March seven Cuban players defected, requesting political asylum (Source) after an Olympic trials game in the US.

The match with Cuba is a World Cup semi-final qualifying round. The US won it’s first semi in a 1 to nil victory over Guatemala. The team hopes to pick up 3 points with a victory over Cuba in their bid to advance to the Round Robin stage. Only two of these countries, United States, Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago can advance to the next stage, so two will be eliminated during the qualifying round.

After Cuba, the US National team will next play Trinidad and Tobago in Bridgeport CT Sept 10th.

Tags: cuba, national team, soccer
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