Cuban players invited to reinforce the Spanish team in the qualifying round for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

As long as they meet the required criteria, Cuban baseball players may be considered to join the Spanish national team of the discipline and represent the country in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to a statement from the Cuban Professional Baseball Players Federation (Fepcube).

The Fepcube, which is sharing this invitation on its social profiles, indicates that among the requirements demanded by the Spanish side are: "having a Spanish passport, having a Spanish father or mother, being born in Spain or being a permanent resident in the European country."

In addition, they must fill out the corresponding application before September 16, the day Spain will present a roster of 50 athletes, from which the national team will be defined.

This roster is the first step in forming the representative team of the Iberian country that will compete for one of the four spots still available to face the Classic.

The World Baseball Classic, to be held from March 6 to March 17, 2026, will be played simultaneously in venues in the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico. Cuba is placed in Group A, alongside Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, and another opponent yet to be determined.

The Cuban sports media Swing Completo reports that this is not the first time the Spanish Federation has requested foreign reinforcements, including several Cubans who have been key players on the team.

In 2023, the starter Pablo Guillén and the reliever Carlos Sierra teamed up to secure Spain's final victory in the European Baseball Championship. Additionally, the catcher from the island, Omar Hernández, was the leader in home runs and runs scored in the tournament.

In the meeting, there were other Cubans present such as pitchers Rogelio Armenteros and Carlos Sierra, along with outfielder Frank Hernández and bench coach Néstor Pérez Jr.

Recently, the departure of Cuban baseball players, especially from lower categories, has become common in search of more promising futures for their sports careers, due to the lack of resources that sports in the island suffers from.