The Stars and Stripes was among a line of flags flying in front of the US soccer team’s hotel on the Cuban capital’s storied seaside Malecon boulevard on Thursday.
It’s been quite a while since that happened. But then, it’s also been 61 years since a US national soccer team visited the island.
Both sides insist tonight’s US-Cuba World Cup qualifier is about soccer — not politics. But Washington’s nearly 50-year-old trade embargo ensures that US players wouldn’t have the chance to visit the nation if not for the game.
PHOTO: AFP
US coach Bob Bradley said he discussed the political situation between the two countries “a little bit” with his players.
“I don’t think there’s extra pressure, but we do understand the fact that this game will bring extra attention,” Bradley said.
It’s the US team’s first trip Cuba since an exhibition game in 1947, when the Americans lost 5-2.
Soccer enjoys little following in baseball-crazy Cuba, but officials have heavily publicized the game on radio and television in recent days.
Cuba’s players have also played down politics, while quietly admitting that all Cubans don’t like to lose to Americans in any sport.
“It’s a rival that motivates us to elevate our play,” forward Leonel Duarte said. “But there’s no political aspect to sports at this level.”
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