U.S. Spikes Cuba’s Volleyball Dreams with Visa Denial

Cuba’s national women’s volleyball team was denied U.S. visas to attend a final four tournament in Puerto Rico next month organized by the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA). Cuba’s Volleyball Federation slammed the decision, calling it “unfair and discriminatory.” 

The volleyball players are just the latest Cuban athletes to be denied the chance to compete in the U.S.

According to Gisleidy Sosa, director of international relations at Cuba’s National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, no Cuban athlete has been granted a U.S. visa in 2025 at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

Earlier this year, the island’s national men’s basketball team was prevented from competing for qualification in the AmericaCup. Also, 12 athletes were barred from attending the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship in Gainesville, Florida. 

Though Trump’s travel ban specifically exempts athletes traveling to the U.S. to compete “in major sporting events,” the final case-by-case decision is made by Secretary State Marco Rubio. 

If the de-facto travel ban for athletes continues, it would result in the exclusion of Cubans from many more sporting events, especially since participating in world and Olympic qualifiers often requires travel to the United States or Puerto Rico. 

The 2028 Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles, where qualifying Cuban athletes will need Rubio’s approval to travel.

Watch our report with the reactions to the visa denials of Cuba’s national men’s basketball team below.