12 Longest Absences From The World Cup

Last Appearance: 1938

Professional sport is actually illegal in Cuba, one of many quirks boasted by the nation that sits just 103 miles south of the United States, with whom they have had a long and tumultuous relationship given their contrasting communist and capitalist ideologies. As a result, Cuba's best performances on the international sporting stage come in amateur disciplines such as Olympic boxing and baseball.

The downside of the Cuban sporting mentality is that many of their most promising talents leave their homeland to pursue their dreams in a country where they can get paid for their efforts. As recently as 2015, thirteen footballers defected to America during Cuba's participation in international tournaments. They and the many that have preceded them will never be able to represent their national side ever again and it has long been weak as a result.

Perhaps in response, one player, Maykel Reyes, became the first to ever be permitted to play professionally when he was approached by a Mexican team in 2016. The fact that said side are in the third tier of the league reiterates the poor state that Cuban football is in despite its huge popularity in terms of participation.

It has been eighty years since Cuba made their one and only appearance in the World Cup, qualifying by default when the five other North American entrants withdrew rather than face a long trip to France. They made the quarter finals, beating Romania before losing to Sweden.