Could Cuba’s Defections Have Been Prevented?

Within 15 minutes of the Cuba U-23 team’s return to their hotel in Tampa, Florida, five players, in the words of one, had “slipped out a side entrance of the hotel and run for it.” None of the players were carrying their passports. The next day, two others disappeared, too, leaving Cuba shorthanded for the remainder of the qualifying tournament. With just 10 of the original 18-man roster remaining — one of the players was suspended for one game — Cuba fell to Honduras, 2-0.

The U.S. has a policy known as “wet foot, dry foot” that allows any Cuban who reaches American soil to remain in the country for one year, after which he or she may apply for citizenship. It’s not always that easy for defectors, but for the Cuban soccer players, they can look to Chivas USA striker Maykel Galindo as a model. He defected following the 2005 Gold Cup, but Galindo’s success is an exception, says ESPN Soccernet’s Andrew Hush. Several from the latest Cuban batch are said to have lined up trials with Miami FC of the United Soccer League; there is no guarantee the team will keep them.

Several questions remain, notably: Why didn’t the Cuban team provide better security? Why didn’t the tournament provide better security? Why, did tournament organizers decide to place Cuba in Florida, where the area’s massive Cuban population would always invite defections? Thursday’s loss to Honduras leaves Cuba with little chance of qualifying for the Olympics. What’s to stop the rest of the team from defecting now, too?