July 2, 2025
Cuba’s women volleyball team
We are running this article to demonstrate just how far the tentacles of the criminal and mean spirit nature of the US blockade and Trump’s new round of sanctions against Cuba reaches.
The Cuban women’s national volleyball team has been denied US visas to compete in the NORCECA Women’s Final Four tournament in Manatí, Puerto Rico. This decision, confirmed in late June 2025, just weeks before the tournament, has sent shockwaves through the world of international sports and raised important questions about the intersection of immigration policy, sports diplomacy, and the rights of athletes to compete on the global stage.
The NORCECA Women’s Final Four is not just another volleyball event. It is a crucial tournament for teams from North, Central America, and the Caribbean. The results affect world rankings and determine which teams can qualify for larger competitions, such as the Volleyball Nations League and the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026.
The affected group includes 12 athletes, a referee, and several coaches from the Cuban women’s national volleyball team. They were scheduled to participate in the NORCECA Women’s Final Four tournament, a key event that not only offers ranking points for the Volleyball Nations League but also impacts standings for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. The denial of US visas means the entire Cuban delegation cannot travel to Puerto Rico for this critical competition.
The news came as a major blow to the team. Players like Laura Suarez and Dayana Martínez openly shared their disappointment, explaining that missing this tournament disrupts their training plans and competitive progress. Coach Wilfredo Robinson emphasized that the team’s absence from the event will make it much harder to collect the points needed for future qualifications, especially for the Nations League in September 2025.
Why Were the Visas Denied?
The visa denial is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader set of US immigration restrictions and sanctions against Cuba , which were tightened in early June of this year. Cuba was added to a list of 12 countries facing stricter entry rules for the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico. Other countries on this list include Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, and the Republic of Congo.
The US Embassy in Cuba has not commented on the specific reasons for denying the Cuban women’s national volleyball team visas, citing privacy policies. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, however, strongly criticized the visa restrictions, calling them “racist and xenophobic” on social media. He argued that the policy is discriminatory and politically motivated, targeting Cuban citizens unfairly and undermining international sports cooperation.
Source: Visa Verge