As the World Cup draws to a close, British columnist Roger Boyes argues that Donald Trump could take advantage of the tournament's conclusion to refocus his agenda on Cuba and turn pressure against the Havana regime into a key pillar of his political strategy leading up to the midterm elections in the United States.
In an article published in The Times, Boyes states that the World Cup has served as a platform for Trump to project international leadership, although he claims that the goal of the White House was never solely about sports.
"When the final whistle blows this weekend, it will soon become clear that, for Trump, organizing the tournament has always been more about projecting national strength, economic dominance, and the logistical capacity required for the world's biggest spectacle than about celebrating acts of empathy and brotherhood," wrote the analyst.
According to Boyes, once the World Cup is over, the Trump Administration will vigorously resume other international fronts. Among them, he places Cuba, a country that, in his opinion, could hold a significant position within the political strategy of the U.S. president.
Cuba at the heart of the analysis
The columnist argues that Trump seeks to demonstrate leadership in foreign policy to his electoral base before the midterm elections. As a precedent, he mentions the operation that led to Nicolás Maduro's departure from power in Venezuela and suggests that Cuba now represents a target of immense symbolic value.
"An action against the Cuban regime cannot promise the oil reward, but it offers a kind of historical reckoning with the Castro dynasty," Boyes stated.
In his opinion, “the mechanisms of an operation regarding Cuba have been gradually put in place since February.” Among the elements he mentions are the reduction of fuel to the island, the deepening economic crisis, and the deterioration of the state food distribution system, factors that increase pressure on the ruling regime.
Boyes also considers the prosecution announced by the United States against Raúl Castro for the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996 to be significant. In his view, this decision could be interpreted as a signal aimed at certain sectors of the Cuban Armed Forces.
A hypothesis about Trump's political calendar
The analyst's conclusion points directly to the political landscape of the coming months. Although he acknowledges that the outcome is uncertain, he asserts that a potential change in Cuba is starting to factor into the strategic calculations of the White House.
"It remains to be seen whether the regime change can occur before the midterm elections in the fall, but it is starting to become part of the Trump choreography for after the tournament,” Boyes concluded.
The claims are part of the political analysis by the veteran columnist and do not correspond to official announcements from the Trump Administration.
However, they arrive at a time of increasing pressure from Washington on the Cuban regime and stimulate the debate about what the next step in U.S. policy toward Havana will be once the international showcase of the 2026 World Cup concludes.
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