Cuba Returns to Defend Men's Volleyball
Gold at Santo Domingo 2026
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, July 21, 2026. Defending
champion Cuba returns to the Central American and Caribbean
Games determined to retain the men's volleyball title when
competition gets underway from July 25 to 30 at the renovated
Professor Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace, one of the
competition venues of the 25th Central American and Caribbean
Games Santo Domingo 2026.
Eight national teams will compete for the regional crown in a
tournament that promises high-level competition among some of
the strongest volleyball nations in Central America and the
Caribbean.
Pool A features defending champion Cuba alongside Guatemala,
Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Pool B includes host Dominican
Republic, Colombia, Mexico, and Suriname.
The tournament opens on Saturday, July 25, with Venezuela taking
on Guatemala at 14:00, followed by Colombia against Mexico at
16:00. Defending champion Cuba will begin its title defense
against Puerto Rico at 18:00, before host Dominican Republic
faces Suriname at 20:00.
The winners of each pool will advance directly to the
semifinals, while the teams finishing second and third in their
respective groups will cross over in the quarterfinals. The
fourth-place teams from each pool will compete in classification
matches for fifth through eighth places. The medal matches are
scheduled for July 30.
Cuba claimed the gold medal at the previous edition of the Games
in San Salvador in 2023 after defeating the Dominican Republic
in the championship match. Puerto Rico secured the bronze medal
with a victory over Guatemala.
Historically, Cuba is the most successful men's volleyball
nation at the Central American and Caribbean Games, having won
11 gold medals, including the most recent title in 2023. Mexico
ranks second all-time with six championships.
Four matches are scheduled each day during the preliminary
round, with the final day featuring the bronze and gold medal
matches to determine the men's volleyball champion of Santo
Domingo 2026.
Preliminary Round Schedule
Saturday, July 25
14:00 Venezuela vs. Guatemala
16:00 Colombia vs. Mexico
18:00 Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
20:00 Dominican Republic vs. Suriname
Sunday, July 26
14:00 Cuba vs. Guatemala
16:00 Mexico vs. Suriname
18:00 Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico
20:00 Dominican Republic vs. Colombia
Monday, July 27
14:00 Puerto Rico vs. Guatemala
16:00 Colombia vs. Suriname
18:00 Venezuela vs. Cuba
20:00 Mexico vs. Dominican Republic
Historic Medals Mens Volleyball CAC Games
|
YEAR |
GOLD |
SILVER |
BRONZE |
|
1930 |
MEX |
CUB |
ESA |
|
1935 |
MEX |
PUR |
CUB |
|
1938 |
PUR |
MEX |
CUB |
|
1946 |
CUB |
PUR |
MEX |
|
1950 |
MEX |
CUB |
PUR |
|
1954 |
MEX |
PUR |
CUB |
|
1959 |
MEX |
VEN |
PUR |
|
1962 |
MEX |
DOM |
VEN |
|
1966 |
CUB |
VEN |
MEX |
|
1970 |
CUB |
VEN |
MEX |
|
1974 |
CUB |
MEX |
DOM |
|
1978 |
CUB |
VEN |
MEX |
|
1982 |
CUB |
MEX |
VEN |
|
1986 |
CUB |
DOM |
PUR |
|
1990 |
CUB |
MEX |
VEN |
|
1993 |
CUB |
PUR |
VEN |
|
1998 |
CUB |
MEX |
VEN |
|
2002 |
PUR |
MEX |
VEN |
|
2006 |
PUR |
CUB |
VEN |
|
2010 |
PUR |
VEN |
MEX |
|
2014 |
DOM |
PUR |
CUB |
|
2018 |
PUR |
COL |
MEX |
|
2023 |
CUB |
DOM |
PUR |
Medal Composition
|
COUNTRY |
GOLD |
SILVER |
BRONZE |
TOTAL |
|
CUB |
11 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
|
MEX |
6 |
6 |
6 |
18 |
|
PUR |
5 |
5 |
5 |
15 |
|
DOM |
1 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
|
VEN |
0 |
5 |
7 |
12 |
|
COL |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
ESA |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
