Cuban football achieves a historic point at the World Cup

In their second participation in a U20 World Cup, Cuban football made history by earning points and scoring 4 goals by the end of the group phase.

After three matches against Argentina, Italy, and Australia, U20 Cuba recorded one draw and two losses. Although they did not advance, the tournament was memorable and marked a new milestone in Cuban youth football history.

Following a 1-3 opening loss to Argentina, U20 Cuba faced the reigning runners-up, U20 Italy, in their second match. Despite Italy leading 2-0 at halftime and expected an easy game, they were surprised by Cuba’s resilient performance in the second half.

Camejo’s brace from penalty kicks in the latter half of the second half secured a 2-2 draw for U20 Cuba, described as a shock of this tournament. Although they were eliminated after a 1-3 loss to Australia in their final group match, the young Cuban players’ efforts were truly admirable in their second World Cup appearance. The tears on these players’ faces symbolized their belief, determination, and the pride of an entire nation on the world stage.

The 2-2 draw against Italy became a memorable landmark in Cuban youth football history. In this tournament, Cuba scored 4 goals, conceded 8, and earned one point, marking their best performance since their debut at the 2013 U20 World Cup, where they lost all three matches and scored only one goal. This historic point for U20 Cuba at a World Cup has raised great hopes for this generation in future competitions.

Regarding the FIFA World Cup, the senior national team of Cuba made their first and only appearance in 1938. That year, Cuba was eliminated in the quarterfinals after an 0-8 defeat to Sweden. The 1938 World Cup held in France was the second consecutive championship won by Italy.