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Emilio Estefan took advantage of an event in Miami related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 to send an heartfelt message of encouragement to Cuban youth, calling on the exile community to stay united and to provide hope to those suffering on the island.
The event, covered on Friday by the program "Hoy Día" from Telemundo, also brought together FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as part of the preparations for the tournament that begins in less than a week.
"At this moment, the exile, especially being very united to support those people, asking nothing from Cuba, giving everything that needs to be done, giving them hope. I do believe a lot in the youth of Cuba," declared the Cuban-American producer in front of the cameras.
Estefan recalled her own story as an exile to reinforce the message of overcoming adversity.
"The exiles who came had to clean bathrooms, pick tomatoes, do whatever was necessary. We did what we had to do. We started our career by playing in homes, doing weddings, and we ended up doing many beautiful things. But the most important thing is to help those people who are suffering from hunger, those in need, and to show the youth that anything is possible," he affirmed.
The message arrives at a time of intense activity for Estefan related to the World Cup. The renowned artist presented in Miami "Love Always Wins", the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2026 album that he wrote and produced himself, featuring Zema, Shaggy, and the Cuban Cimafunk.
Additionally, it was announced that Miami Sound Machine will perform at Hard Rock Stadium on July 3rd, a venue that will host seven matches of the tournament from June 15th to July 18th.
Estefan's call to the Cuban youth is consistent with the public stance he has maintained throughout 2026.
In March, he posted a message on Instagram demanding the resignation of all regime leaders and expressed his confidence in Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "The good thing is that we have Marco Rubio, one of our own, who knows the pain firsthand and is in a position of leadership."
In February, alongside Willy Chirino and Amaury Gutiérrez, he had already stated on N+ Univisión 23: "I believe that the people of Cuba are ready at this moment, that youth, if given the opportunity, can move forward."
The backdrop is a Cuba in deep crisis: blackouts of up to 20 hours a day, an electricity deficit of 1,960 MW, nearly 800,000 young people disconnected from work and education, and a 23% drop in GDP since 2019, with a projected decline of -7.2% for this year.
Since March 6, the Island has also been experiencing a wave of protests featuring banging pots and pans, trash burning, and street blockades in several provinces, amidst a context where the regime itself admitted to having initiated dialogues with representatives of the Trump administration.
"There must be a new generation, a new force, that drives the real change that Cuba needs," Estefan wrote in March, a conviction he reiterated in front of the cameras this Friday with the same firmness.
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