Related videos:
Dozens of Cubans gathered at the entrance of the Cine Yara in Havana to watch the Argentina vs. Algeria match of the 2026 World Cup, unable to follow the tournament from their homes due to the ongoing electricity crisis affecting the island.
A country without outstanding results in this sport embraces the World Cup passion as if it had its own team in the tournament, even though the energy crisis caused by the government doesn't allow it to fully enjoy the celebration.
The images, posted on Facebook by Pedro Lizardo Garces Escalona, show between 40 and 80 people—of various ages—sitting on the ground or standing under the columns of the portal, some wearing Argentina national team jerseys with the number 10 of Lionel Messi, watching the match on a screen set up in that iconic space of Vedado.
And, furthermore, the initiative was made possible thanks to «Intermedio», a form of non-state management that set up the public screen at the entrance.
“At this time at the entrance of the Yara Cinema, World Cup 2026, Argentina vs. Algeria. Thank you to the non-state management Intermedio for making it possible,” wrote Garces Escalona in his post.
The match, held on Monday in Kansas City, ended 3-0 in favor of Argentina with a hat-trick by Messi, corresponding to Group J of the tournament.
The backdrop of the scene is the serious electricity crisis affecting Cuba in June 2026, with daily deficits ranging from 1,630 to 2,085 MW and blackouts lasting from 20 to 22 hours in the capital.
In provinces like Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Matanzas, power outages have lasted up to 40 to 85 consecutive hours, leaving households without television signal for entire days.
The shutdown of the CTE Guiteras last Sunday further worsened the situation, raising the projected impact to 2,085 MW.
Watching the World Cup at home is practically impossible for most Cubans, which makes public spaces with their own electricity the only access points to the tournament.
The television coverage of the event has also been an issue: Tele Rebelde barely aired 10 minutes of the opening ceremony on June 11 before switching to cycling and women's volleyball, which sparked a wave of criticism.
Following public pressure, the channel announced on June 13 that it would broadcast a selection of matches from the group stage and all of the knockout rounds.
The post generated mixed reactions on social media.
While some celebrated the initiative, others highlighted the precariousness that makes it necessary.
"How little one is satisfied," wrote the user Noel Hernandez Rodriguez.
Katia Conde asked briefly, "Is there light?"
Gina Verdecia's comment summed up the inequality of access between the capital's center and the peripheral neighborhoods: "Those of us who live in the suburbs can't see anything."
Filed under: