By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – Three Cuban footballers who vanished just before a World Cup qualifying match against Canada have defected, FIFA has confirmed.
The players have been missing since last Thursday (October 11), 24 hours before the scheduled game in Toronto.
Their disappearance left Cuban coach Alexander González (pictured top) with only 11 available players — and no subs — for the qualifier, which Canada won 3-0.
A fourth player missed the game through illness.
“As with any Cuban sport team that travels around the world, they’re all chasing the American dream,” González said.
“Obviously, it’s a difficult situation for the team and it’s tough for me to talk about it.”
It is unclear whether the missing players are in the United States or in Canada but there is a history of Cuban athletes defecting to pursue a professional career.
Two women footballers defected in January, while seven members of Cuba’s Olympic football team did likewise in 2008 after a game against the United States.
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