Rebuilding Cuba move into the bright lights of World Cup Qualifiers

HAVANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - Cuba have not played at a FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1994 in Canada, when they twice beat rising African powers at the time, Angola, and also Korea but finished 15th out of 16 teams.

They haven't made much noise on the international stage since, but that's going to change in November when Cuba and 15 other teams in the Americas begin playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

The aim for each will be to reach the 32-team World Cup in China. For Cuba to meet that goal, they'll have to come up with some big wins.

Javier Justiz will take center stage for Cuba in the World Cup Qualifiers

To advance from the First Round, teams must finish in the top three. Cuba will need to get at least one victory, if not two, and they are in arguably the toughest of the four four-team qualifying pools, Group C, with Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States.

"We're preparing for it (Qualifiers) right away," Cuba Basketball Federation president Ruperto Herrera said to FIBA.com. "We know it's a very difficult group because of the quality teams that are in the pool but we're going to try to make a great effort. We're optimistic that we can progress to the next round."

For us, it's important to host games. Because of financial problems, Cuba has not hosted basketball events for some time but now the fans are going to have the opportunity to watch the national team play international games.HerreraHerrera

Cuba will open their campaign at Mexico on 23 November and three days later host Puerto Rico. The home game against the Boricuas, and the ones against Mexico on 26 February (2018) and the United States on 1 July (2018) have the potential to be major events in the country. 

"For us, it's important to host games," Herrera said. "Because of financial problems, Cuba has not hosted basketball events for some time but now the fans are going to have the opportunity to watch the national team play international games."