Cuba secured one of the four spots available for the FIFA U-20 Championship 2025 in Chile, after defeating Honduras in a penalty shootout during the quarter-finals of the Concacaf tournament.
The Cuban team will compete in the U-20 World Cup. Despite Honduras, ranked second in the regional standings, being the favorite, the Antilleans managed to advance.
The United States, Mexico, and Panama had already qualified, but Honduras had to face the Cubans in the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Mexico 2024.
The players led by Yunielys Castillo demonstrated unwavering determination and held strong during the first minutes of the match with a solid strategy.
Although Cuba had the chance to take the lead, the referee did not call a clear foul in the Honduran area, and the VAR did not intervene.
However, a penalty was finally awarded after David Herrera brought down Aniel Casanova. Samuel Rodríguez did not miss and gave the Cubans the lead.
Despite a tie from Honduras ten minutes before the end, the match was decided in penalties. Cuba was flawless, and Didier Reinoso scored the decisive penalty, securing their qualification for the World Cup.
Cuba's success in futsal and the U-20 category in the same year reflects a significant advancement in the island's football, although there is still work to be done.
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