Cuba’s resurgence gathers pace for VNL 2026

June 9, 2026.- Cuba’s road to the 2026 Volleyball Nations League comes with newfound momentum. After several seasons spent rebuilding their men’s national team programme, the Caribbean side is beginning to show signs of a genuine resurgence, combining the emergence of a new generation of players with support through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme. 

Cuba received approximately USD 35,000 in Empowerment support through an application-based project aimed at strengthening the national team environment from 2024 to 2026. The initiative included the appointment of performance analyst Rusber Anser Campos, whose work focused on performance analysis within the programme. The project was successfully completed in November 2025.

Encouraging signs of progress were visible throughout the 2025 international season. Cuba reached the Volleyball Nations League Finals for the first time, finishing the preliminary round in seventh place with a 6–6 record and 20 points to secure qualification among the top eight teams in the competition.

A defining moment of that campaign came during the final week of preliminary action, when Cuba produced a major result by defeating world No. 1 Poland 3-1, a victory that ultimately confirmed their place in the Finals. 

In the quarterfinals in Ningbo, Cuba pushed Italy before eventually exiting the tournament in four sets, an effort that nevertheless demonstrated the team’s growing ability to compete with the world’s leading nations.

The team faced a more challenging campaign at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in the Philippines. Drawn in Pool D, Cuba finished the group stage with a 1-2 record, defeating Colombia but suffering defeats to Portugal and the United States, narrowly missing out on qualification for the knockout rounds.

Despite the early exit, the season highlighted the growing influence of a new generation of Cuban players who are beginning to make their mark internationally. Outside hitter Marlon Yant has developed into one of the most dangerous attackers in the international game, capable of delivering explosive scoring performances against strong opponents. 

Alongside him, Miguel Angel Lopez continues to provide experience and consistency on the wing, while veteran middle blocker Robertlandy Simon remains a key leader within the squad.

The 2026 Volleyball Nations League will provide another opportunity for Cuba to build on that progress. The team will open their preliminary round campaign in Linyi, China, where they will play Poland, Ukraine, Slovenia and hosts China during the opening week of competition from 10-14 June. Week two will take the Caribbean side to Orleans, France, competing against USA, France, Serbia and Iran from 24-28 June.

The final week of the preliminary round from 15-19 July will be played in Osaka, Japan, where Cuba are facing Belgium, Argentina, Canada and Italy as they aim to secure another place in the VNL Finals, which will be held in Ningbo, China, from 29 July to 2 August.