The U.S. government has denied visas to eight members of Cuba's World Baseball Classic delegation, including Federation president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Muñoz. The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation announced Thursday that pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo was also among those denied entry. All Cuban players and coaches except Lazo received visas, according to sources.

Cuba is set to compete in pool play against Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, and Canada in San Juan. The team finished third in the 2023 WBC and has exhibition games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds in Arizona. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the visa denials, citing privacy laws.

This denial affects team executives and officials rather than athletes, a U.S. official confirmed. Cuba joins six other countries including Venezuela and North Korea on the list of nations facing travel restrictions to the United States. Last year, Venezuela's Cacique Mara team was denied visas and missed the Senior Baseball World Series. The Cuban Federation stated it "will analyze how to proceed" regarding the situation.