The agency described the denial of visas to eight members of the delegation as “the latest act of aggression against our people and their national sport,” and denounced that the measure seeks to intentionally obstruct the participation of the Cuban team in one of the most prestigious events on the international baseball calendar.

The INDER emphasizes that the decision by the U.S. government aims to “damage” the team’s performance by preventing the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation from fielding a team “on equal footing with the other participating nations.”

Inder’s statement points out that the visa denials applied since January 2025 to Cuban athletes and federation officials for events held in the United States were not enough; now, a decision of a “markedly political nature” has been adopted, which, in their view, violates fundamental principles of competitive fairness.

The National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) warns that, despite the “goodwill and efforts” made by Major League Baseball and the tournament organizers to guarantee Cuba’s participation, from the outset of the process, U.S. authorities have allegedly intended to create difficulties and obstruct the national team.

In fact, the statement adds, the visa denials are also aimed at provoking a possible decision by the Cuban federation not to attend the tournament under these conditions, which they interpret as a move that puts the island at a disadvantage.

And now, as the statement concludes, “Today we will return,” alluding to the venues of the VI World Baseball Classic, it reaffirms baseball as a national cultural heritage, pledging to attend with “the same spirit, the same dignity and resolve as always.”

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