Cuba qualified! Which leads to the question on every North and Central American soccer fans lips. What is the over/under on the number of defectors this time? Seriously -- congratulations Cuba. And folks in Miami, a few of you will have visitors soon.
or.. they could simply withdraw like in 2009: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup#Participating_nations
I am not surprised they qualified. I just wonder if the Cuban soccer federation can send the team over on a 767, but fly them back to Cuba on a DC 3.
Couldn't they just go to Mexico or Canada first and get to the US that way. I mean I know that still has to be illegal, but it would still make it easier for them to get there, no?
They could field a team of "scarface" type dudes and see if the USA would give them asylum once they defect
These are special charter flights and you can only book a flight with an authorized travel agency. Also U.S. citizens must have a U.S. Treasury license to be able to aboard these flights. So I doubt the Cuban team will want to book their flights with a US based travel agency.
Non of those things were the issues brought up. No one is talking about american going there. it was about the cuban national team coming here. those are the same flights cubans take to come. At least all the ones that I know or have met that have come via plane have flown via american to miami direct flights for cultural exchanges, sporting events etc. so is not like they have to take 2-3 flights. The Cuban team would need visas to come just like any other team. now whether they get the visas from the state department is a whole nother story.
Sure they will. They always do. Given that EVERYTIME Cuban team comes to the US there are defections, and that given in the people's paradise the sports teams are the elite, it is an embarrassment for Cuba. So as far as I am concern, give them all visa, let's see if they can fly over a Piper Cub to take the team back.