Sweden's embassy in Havana has refused visas to a Cuban youth soccer team consisting of players under 16 years old. The team was invited to participate in the Gothia Cup 2026, known as the world's largest youth soccer tournament, scheduled to take place in Gothenburg from July 12 to July 18.
The decision was conveyed last Monday to the Cuban Football Association (AFC) representatives and criticized this Wednesday by the Cuban embassy in Stockholm, which described the action as "completely exclusive, discriminatory, and damaging."
Sweden's Reasoning for Visa Denial
According to the Cuban diplomatic mission, Swedish authorities justified the visa refusal by stating that "applicants must demonstrate sufficient socioeconomic ties to their country of origin." This is one of the requirements outlined in the Schengen visa regulations, aimed at assessing the risk of irregular stay after the trip.
The Cuban embassy rejected this reasoning and questioned its application to a group of teenagers. "It is even more serious to attempt to impose such restrictive measures on children, considering the Cuban team comprises athletes under 16," the embassy stated in a release.
Impact of the Decision
The participation of the team had been championed by the Swedish club Proletären FF, based in Gothenburg, which had extended the official invitation. The project began taking shape in 2024 with support from Swedish civil society organizations involved in cooperation with Cuba.
Had the trip materialized, it would have marked the first time a Cuban team competed in the Gothia Cup, a tournament founded in 1975 that annually attracts around 50,000 young soccer players from nearly 90 countries.
The Cuban diplomatic mission noted that this is not the first instance where a sports delegation from the island has faced challenges in obtaining international visas.
Previous Visa Denials for Cuban Teams
Cuban teams have previously encountered similar exclusions, primarily in events hosted by the United States. This time, Swedish authorities have joined this unjust, politicized, and discriminatory stance," the embassy asserted.
In recent years, several Cuban sports delegations have reported visa denials by the United States. In June 2025, the Cuban women's volleyball team was unable to attend the NORCECA Final Four after not receiving their visas. The same year, Cuban baseball coaches missed the Little League World Series due to visa issues.
More recently, in February 2026, eight members of the Cuban technical delegation were barred from the VI World Baseball Classic because of visa refusals, including former pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo.
Contradiction with International Sports Principles
The Cuban embassy also argued that Sweden's decision contradicts the non-discrimination principles promoted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), even though the Gothia Cup is an independently organized youth tournament and not part of the official Olympic movement calendar.
The statement concludes by denouncing the measure as contrary "to the principles of sports and the historic sporting and cultural exchange relations between the two countries."
Understanding Cuba-Sweden Visa Controversy
Why did Sweden deny visas to the Cuban youth soccer team?
Sweden denied the visas because the applicants could not demonstrate sufficient socioeconomic ties to Cuba, a requirement stated in the Schengen visa regulations to evaluate the risk of irregular stay.
What was the Cuban embassy's response to the visa denial?
The Cuban embassy in Stockholm criticized the decision as discriminatory and damaging. They argued against applying such restrictive measures to children, emphasizing that the team consists of athletes under 16 years old.
Have other Cuban sports teams faced similar visa issues?
Yes, Cuban sports teams have previously faced visa denials, particularly for events held in the United States. The volleyball and baseball teams have been affected in recent years.