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Cuba approved the Law 179 of the Cuban Sports System, the first comprehensive regulation of its kind in the country's history, which will allow foreign economic actors to participate in the sponsorship and financing of sports on the island starting from May 13, 2026, the date it comes into effect.
The law was approved by the National Assembly of People's Power in July 2025 and published in the Official Gazette No. 3 Ordinary on January 13, 2026.
With 5 titles, 26 chapters, and 253 articles, it establishes the legal framework for the operation of the Cuban Sports System and incorporates, for the first time, both state and non-state economic actors, both national and foreign.
The legal director of INDER, Karel Luis Pachot Zambrana, explained to Prensa Latina that "the status of national or foreigner does not limit the opportunity to participate in sponsorship activities within sports on the island."
According to the official, the contribution of these stakeholders "is not limited to financing, but also includes the production of goods, the provision of services, and the innovation and development of knowledge, aimed at strengthening the sports system as a social interest asset."
The authorization process is governed by the Resolution 41 of 2025 from INDER: the interested economic actor submits their proposal to a federation or organizing committee, and the competent authority evaluates and approves it based on the level of the event.
Pachot Zambrana acknowledged that one of the main challenges will be "to improve the training and knowledge of everyone involved in the advertising and sponsorship approval processes."
Another significant change is the federative autonomy in the selection of athletes.
The article 156 establishes that national sports federations have exclusive authority to select athletes and technical staff, without requiring permanent residency in the country.
This opens the door for Cubans living abroad to join national teams, although there are conditions: the eligibility criteria set by international federations and adherence to the principles of the Cuban Sports System.
The law arrives at a time of collapse of Cuban sports in 2025.
That year, 41 ballplayers signed with Major League organizations, the INDER indefinitely suspended competitions in multiple sports due to a lack of fuel, and Cuba withdrew from the AmeriCup basketball tournament in February after visas were denied to 14 out of 17 players and coaches.
The Cuban GDP fell by 5% in 2025, accumulating a decline of 15% since 2020.
The opening up to foreign sponsorship is part of a broader trend: in March 2026, the regime announced that emigrants will be able to invest directly in Cuba in sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, and energy.
However, experts warn about the lack of the rule of law and real legal guarantees for investors.
In fact, the story of a foreign investor imprisoned in Cuba has once again raised alarms about the real risks of investing in the Cuban market, where the rules of the game can change without warning and without effective legal protection.
Pachot Zambrana insisted that the State "continues to be the main guarantor of sports resources on the island," and that the model remains aligned with the socialist economic and social system of the country, raising questions about the actual extent of the announced opening.
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