They say football is a religion without atheists, but in Cuba it’s also a daily miracle. At this FIFA World Cup 2026—where the Spanish national team’s red tide once again stirs up conflicting and euphoric passions throughout the archipelago. With their victory against the equally beloved Argentine team—the entire country comes to a standstill, or rather, is transformed.
Despite the complex economic situation, the scarcity of resources, and the persistent power outages that often threaten to cut the screen in the 90th minute. Cuban fans demonstrate that football passion doesn’t depend on an electrical connection, but on the heart.
When the power goes out just before kickoff, ingenuity blossoms. A television powered by a battery or generator, a battery-operated radio blasting in the doorway. Or the friendly gathering at the neighbor’s house who managed to keep the signal, transforms any street corner into a small stadium stand.
No one misses out on the score; the shout of “goal” is passed from mouth to mouth, from balcony to balcony, like a spark igniting the night.
A sport that lives in the neighborhood
But the true magic of this sport in Cuba isn’t born on screens nor is it limited to the classrooms of the Sports Initiation Schools (EIDE). The real Cuban breeding ground is in the neighborhood.
There, where the terrain might be an asphalt street. A dirt field, or an uneven patch of grass, soccer is played by the rules of creativity:
- Improvised goals: Two stones, two flip-flops, or a couple of sticks stuck in the ground are enough to mark the sacred space of the goal.
- Clothing with a story: Worn-out shoes, patched-up sneakers, or simply bare feet on the warm earth are enough to run after the ball.
- The value of the uniform: Although an official jersey of the Spanish national team or any club is now an almost unattainable luxury.Athreadbare jersey with a hand-painted number or the pride of wearing the colors that represent love for the team always appears.
More than a game, a refuge
Amidst the daily vicissitudes, soccer acts in Cuban society as a catalyst for joy, a space for escape and camaraderie. No matter how hard the day has been or how many hours of blackout await them upon returning home. When the ball starts rolling, worries are left behind on the makeshift pitch.
The final whistle of a World Cup may declare a champion on the official field. But in the streets of Holguin and throughout Cuba, the true triumph belongs to those people. With nothing more than a ball and a lot of determination, continue to demonstrate that passion never breaks or fades.
By: Alvaro Raúl Suárez Leyva
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