Renowned sports commentator Renier González has openly criticized the management of Cuban soccer, describing it as the worst in the nation's history during an appearance on the podcast Team Vívela, available on YouTube.
"This is the lowest point for soccer in Cuba. The press is denied information. Young journalists aren't given opportunities to cover the national team, and there's a complete disconnect between the federation and the media. Players are disgruntled and refuse to join the team because of poor relations," González stated emphatically.
With over 25 years in Cuban sports media, González used a musical metaphor to illustrate the stagnation: "Cuban soccer is like a Julio Iglesias song. Life remains the same, but worse. It's alarming, yet nobody seems to care."
González, 55, blamed the Federation's communication strategy for the decline: "Recent years have been disastrous in terms of management, especially the communication strategy. There's a terrible relationship with the press. Without providing information, how can you engage the fans?"
The Missteps in Cuban Soccer Management
He cited specific instances, such as the mishandling of Arichel Hernández, the former team captain: "You let go of players who could contribute, treating them poorly like Arichel Hernández. It's absurd."
He also mentioned Luis Javier Paradela's situation, who joined the national team without the captain's armband, as another example of poor internal management.
Criticism of Coaching Decisions
The commentator also criticized keeping Pedro Pablo Pereira as head of both the under-20 and the senior national teams: "Pereira excelled with the under-20s and under-17s. He should have stayed there. Promoting him to the senior team was a disaster. We are innovators in making things worse every day," he quipped.
As a solution, González suggested hiring a foreign coach or someone with international experience, citing the Cuban volleyball federation as a "vanguard" model for reinventing itself during trying times.
"We've regressed. Cuba once won the Central American and Caribbean championships three times. The issue is that they've stifled that talent, and that's where the problems lie," the journalist emphasized.
The decline is undeniable: Cuba failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Bermuda in Santiago de Cuba in June 2025 and also missed out on the 2025 Gold Cup after a 0-4 loss to Trinidad and Tobago.
González's Absence from the 2026 World Cup Coverage
During the same podcast episode, González shared why he's not covering the 2026 World Cup on Cuban television, citing professional ethics and respect for his colleagues.
"There are many reasons, but the main one is respect. Camilito, Trolli, Alejandrito have been working hard on weekends covering the Spanish League while I wasn't narrating. To then step in and say the World Cup is mine isn't fair or ethical," he explained.
"I've covered seven World Cups. I see life in cycles. My cycle is over for now; maybe in four years, I'll find a motivation I don't have now," González concluded, leaving the door open for the 2030 edition.
Understanding the Challenges in Cuban Soccer
What are the main issues facing Cuban soccer according to Renier González?
Renier González identifies a lack of access to information for the press, poor relations between the federation and players, and ineffective communication strategies as key issues plaguing Cuban soccer.
What solution does González propose for improving Cuban soccer?
González suggests hiring a foreign coach or someone with international experience and cites the Cuban volleyball federation as a successful model of transformation.