(CMR) The Cayman Islands men's national football team forfeited its game against Cuba on Tuesday due to the United States ESTA travel restrictions, which could affect players, many of whom are in college or train in the US.
This is a disappointment for the team after they won Antigua and Barbuda 1-nil in Group A of the Second Round of CONCACAF Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town.
The game was scheduled to be played in Cuba; however, Cayman tried to arrange for it to be played in Miami or at another location because the US has listed Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, which means people who travel to Cuba are ineligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Cuba, however, refused to give up its home game.
According to the US Customs and Border Protection, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (“the Act”) makes nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who have been present in a country designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), as well as those who are dual nationals of both a VWP country and a country designated as an SST at the time of applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) ineligible for travel to the United States under the VWP.
These travelers are not barred from entering the US but would need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a US Embassy or consulate.
CMR understands CONCACAF could not intervene because Cuba is entitled to a home game, and they have played two previous games in the USA.
Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) President Alfredo Whittaker said the team, which includes several players who attend college in the US and have ESTAs, discussed the options and decided they could not play in Cuba and would have to forfeit the match
“I don’t want to risk any of these boys’ ESTAs being removed or their student visas removed for one game,” the president said.
Cayman's next game in the World Cup qualifiers will be June 2025, when Cayman takes on Bermuda and Honduras.
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