Cuba Opens Defense of Its Title Today at the Baseball5 Youth World Cup

With their bags full of hope and a championship to defend, the Cuban team begins today in Tepic, Mexico, the quest to retain its crown at the II Baseball5 Youth World Cup.

The youngsters make their debut against Kenya at 3:00 p.m. local time in Cuba, before returning to the court late at night to face Spain in what promises to be a whirlwind opening day.

Excitement is palpable in Havana, where family members, friends, and fans are ready to follow every step of these athletes, who have already tested the field and adapted to the quick, modular surface used by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

During nearly an hour of practice yesterday, the coaches worked on defensive variations and the tricky bounce off the sidewall —a detail that often determines plays around second base.

“We saw them loose, focused, and enjoying the game,” one of the coaches remarked from Mexico, while noting that before training, the Cubans scouted Chinese Taipei and caught the attention of Spain and South Korea, both closely observing the reigning champions.

The group stage will conclude tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., when Cuba takes on South Korea. Should the team finish atop Group B, the round of 16 will begin on September 25, marking the first step toward repeating the title they won in 2023.

Baseball5, which was born on the street corners of Havana and Caracas, has grown from a street pastime to a showcase on the world stage. In Tepic, 16 national teams are battling for a direct ticket to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. And Cuba —champion at both senior and youth levels— is eager once again to prove that wherever there is a ball and a bounce, the Island rules the game.