Cuba and its presence in the FIFA World Cup.
Cuba’s seventh-place finish, achieved 80 years ago, remains the best result ever for a Central American and Caribbean team in the World Cup, excluding Mexico.
The FIFA World Cups are scheduled to take place every four years since 1930, with that historic start in Uruguay. However, after the tournaments in Italy in 1934 and France in 1938, World War II interrupted their continuation until 1950, when Brazil hosted them. Since then, they have maintained their regular schedule.
The next competition at this highest level will be hosted by the three North American countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For the first time, 48 teams will compete—including Argentina, the reigning champion—from June 11th to July 19th, 2026. Cuba did not qualify for the North, Central American, and Caribbean region.
The emergence of football in Cuba occurred in the first decade of the 20th century and developed with a positive reception, despite having to compete with baseball, which was the main attraction for Cubans.
From a sporting perspective, the football played on the island is not among the best in the world, which is why direct qualification for a World Cup has eluded them, although they did participate once, having been invited to the third edition held in France between June 4th and 19th, 1938.
HISTORICAL PARTICIPATION
The 1938 World Cup in France featured only 15 teams: one from Asia (Indonesia), one from South America (Brazil), one from Central America and the Caribbean (Cuba), and one from the rest of Europe.
Many of the sport’s powerhouses declined to participate, citing various reasons, although historians agree that the imminent threat of World War II was the most significant factor.
Spain was unable to participate due to its involvement in the Civil War. Similarly, China and Japan did not participate because they were engaged in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and Austria was excluded due to its annexation by Germany. A place was offered to England, which declined FIFA’s offer. England’s first appearance in the tournament did not occur until 1950, in Brazil.
Other notable absentees included Argentina and Uruguay. Mexico, which was the qualifier for the Central America and Caribbean region, did not attend citing economic problems, so the International Federation invited Cuba, which had finished second in that year’s qualifying event.
In those years, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) did not yet exist.
For the first time, the reigning champion and the host country qualified automatically, thus avoiding the preliminary round. The 15 participating teams were divided into a single phase starting with the round of 16 to determine the tournament champion. Italy won the title, becoming the first country to achieve back-to-back championships.
Cuba debuted on June 5 against Romania, and the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Four days later, the two teams faced each other again, as at that time the tournaments were played using a single-elimination format. The Cubans, led by Juan Tuñas and Mario Sosa, who each scored a goal, triumphed 2-1.
Three days later, against Sweden, came the debacle when they lost 8-0 and were eliminated from the competition.
That Cuban team was directed by José Tapia, who chose his players from the National League, mainly from Juventud Asturiana, Centro Gallego, Iberia, Fortuna and Iberoamérica.
The team consisted of goalkeepers Juan Ayra and Benito Carvajal; outfield players Jacinto Barquín, José Antonio Rodríguez, Francisco Olivera, Tomás Fernández, Héctor Socorro, Manuel Villaverde, Juan Alonso, and Pedro Ferrer.
The forwards were Juan Tuñas, José Magriñá, Manuel Sosa, Manuel Choréns, Joaquín Arias, and Manuel Berges. The tournament’s top scorer was Brazilian Leônidas, who netted 7 goals. Cuba’s leading scorer was Héctor Socorro with 3 goals.
In the final, Italy defeated Hungary 4-2 to win their second consecutive World Cup. Brazil finished third, Sweden fourth, Czechoslovakia fifth, Switzerland sixth, Cuba seventh, and France eighth, rounding out the top four.
Cuba’s seventh place, achieved 80 years ago, has been the best ranking of a team from Central America and the Caribbean in World Cups, not including Mexico.
Written by Francisco Soriano.
