- The United States denied visas to eight members of Cuba’s World Baseball Classic delegation.
- Denials targeted administrative and coaching personnel, including the federation president and pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo.
- The move follows new immigration restrictions and national security executive orders implemented in early 2026.
(UNITED STATES) — The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation announced on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, that the United States government denied U.S. visas to eight members of its traveling party connected to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Players on the official roster received visas, the federation said, but the denials hit non-player delegation personnel involved in leadership and team operations as Cuba prepares to travel for pre-tournament events.
In its statement, the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) said: “The United States government denied visas to eight members of the delegation formed to represent Cuba. citing as a cause what is set out in Section 243(d) of that country’s Immigration and Nationality Act [which] disregards the essence of sport.”
Free toolDS-160 Form Filling Online Helper ToolAmong those reported denied visas were Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the FCBS, and Carlos del Pino Muñoz, general secretary of the FCBS.
The federation also listed Pedro Luis Lazo Iglesias, the team’s pitching coach, along with Raúl Fornés, first vice president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), and Gisleydi Sosa, director of international relations at INDER.
Judith Langaney, identified as a member of the FCBS, also appeared on the list, along with two additional unnamed administrative members, the federation said.
The FCBS tied the denials to Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which it said consular officials cited. That provision allows the Secretary of State to suspend visa issuance to nationals of countries that “deny or unreasonably delay” the acceptance of their own citizens who have been ordered removed from the United States.
The dispute also sits alongside a broader set of restrictions the federation and official reporting referenced as taking effect January 1, 2026, including Presidential Proclamation 10998, which implemented a “partial ban” on certain visa categories for Cuban nationals.
The proclamation includes provisions for case-by-case “national interest” exceptions for athletes and government officials, the material said, but the federation said the approvals did not extend to the administrative and coaching tier of the delegation despite players receiving visas to compete.
A separate national security step followed later in the month. On January 29, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba,” declaring that Cuban government actions constitute an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security.
The federation challenged the premise behind the legal hook it said the United States applied. It said it is “false that Cuba does not cooperate with the United States on migration matters.”
For Cuba’s World Baseball Classic preparations, the absence of specific staff raised competitive concerns, with the material describing the denial of Lazo as a major blow to technical preparation.
Support staff typically handle daily workloads that keep a national team functioning on the road, from coordinating training schedules and bullpen sessions to managing scouting, analytics, medical needs, and administrative requirements that shape readiness between games.
Lazo spoke publicly on February 26 about missing the tournament trip. “I would have loved to be with Team Cuba at the World Classic, but unfortunately, others decided that it wouldn’t be so. Very unfair, but we must keep moving forward with our heads held high.”
Cuba’s team remained in Nicaragua and was expected to travel to Arizona on February 28, 2026, for exhibition games against the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals before Pool A play in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
While the U.S. Department of State and DHS typically do not comment on individual visa records due to confidentiality, the visa-issuance suspension authorities linked to Section 243(d) are generally documented through official channels, including the State Department’s travel site at U.S. Department of State – Visa Issuance Suspensions.
Text for Presidential Proclamation 10998 appears in the Federal Register – Proclamation 10998, which is where implementing details and updates can be tracked.
The materials also referenced a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin as part of the 2026 restrictions landscape, pointing to the agency’s site at CBP Carrier Liaison Program Bulletin – 2026 Restrictions, as the World Baseball Classic approaches and Cuba’s delegation plans proceed without several senior officials and staff.
