The Cuban Baseball Federation recently sent a preliminary list of 35 players called up to form the national team that will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classicas confirmed by journalist Francys Romero.
On the social network Facebook, the communicator reported that many of the baseball players involved have already been contacted, as part of the Cuban team’s initial planning ahead of the main international selection tournament.
The preparation program includes the start of training in La Habana starting from January 11th, where the technical staff will begin to evaluate the physical and competitive state of the players called up.
Next, in mid-February, the team plans to travel to Nicaragua, where they will establish a training base and participate in exhibition matches as part of competitive preparation.
The planning also includes a transfer to Arizona, where the Cuban selection will play two friendly matches during Spring Training, facing opponents linked to the world of professional baseball.
The preliminary call marks an important step for Cuba in the formation of its team, in a context in which the federation seeks to secure talent both inside and outside the country, amid a process characterized by expectations, absences and complex negotiations.
Relevant data
How they were formed groups of the 2026 World Classic:
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, China Taipei
Group D (Miami, Florida): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua
Key tournament dates:
Tournament starts: March 5 (Group B, in Tokyo)
Start of the rest of the groups: March 6th
Quarterfinals: March 13 and 14 (Houston and Miami)
Semifinals: March 15 and 16 (Miami)
Final: March 17 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, the same setting where Japan became champions in March 2023.
