The Cuban Baseball Federation recently sent a preliminary list of 35 summoned players to be included in the national team that will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as confirmed by journalist Francys Romero.
On the social media platform Facebook, the communicator stated that many of the players included have already been contacted as part of the initial planning for the Cuban team ahead of the main international selection tournament.
The training program includes the start of workouts in Havana beginning January 11, where the coaching staff will begin to assess the physical condition and competitive level of the selected players.
Later, in mid-February, the team plans to travel to Nicaragua, where it will establish a training base and play exhibition matches as part of its competitive readiness.
The planning also includes a trip to Arizona, where the Cuban team would play two exhibition games during Spring Training, facing opponents associated with the professional baseball scene.
The preliminary call marks an important step for Cuba in forming its team, in a context where the federation is trying to secure talent both inside and outside the country, amid a process characterized by expectations, absences, and complex negotiations.
Relevant data
This is how the groups for the World Baseball Classic 2026 were formed:
Group A (San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, Colombia
Group B (Houston, Texas): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Brazil
Group C (Tokyo, Japan): Japan, South Korea, Australia, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei
Group D (Miami, Florida): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua
Key dates of the tournament:
Tournament start: March 5 (Group B, in Tokyo)
Start of the remaining groups: March 6
Quarterfinals: March 13 and 14 (Houston and Miami)
Semifinals: March 15 and 16 (Miami)
Final: March 17 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, the same venue where Japan was crowned champion in March 2023.
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