They won't have their full squad – or their head coach – available, but Cuba will begin their Gold Cup campaign on Thursday night, when they take on Mexico at Soldier Field in Group C action (9:30 pm ET, Fox Sports 1, UniMas).
It's been tough for Cubans to make much of an impact in Major League Soccer, due to diplomatic relations between the country and the US. But there have been several players who defected and eventually made their way into the league.
A total of seven Cuban-born players have spent time in MLS. You can find information on all of them below:
Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders, 2009-Present) – Alonso made 16 appearances with the Cuban national team before defecting to the States in 2007. He signed with the Sounders in 2009 and has been one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS ever since, making 183 career regular season appearances and getting named to MLS' Best XI in 2012.
Maykel Galindo (Chivas USA, 2007-10; FC Dallas, 2011) – Galindo defected to the US in 2005 and went on to score 18 goals over five seasons in MLS. His most successful season was his first in MLS when he scored 12 goals for Chivas USA in 2007.
Yordany Alvarez (Real Salt Lake, 2011-13) –Alvarez spent two seasons with the Austin Aztex and one with Orlando City before joining Real Salt Lake in 2011. After three seasons with RSL he re-joined Orlando City in 2014, expecting to return to MLS with the team in 2015. However a medical condition forced the former Cuban international to retire last summer; he now works for Orlando in a coaching capacity.
Alberto Delgado (Colorado Rapids, 2004) –Delgado made 13 appearances for Colorado in 2004 after defecting from his home country.
Eduardo Sebrango (Montreal Impact, 2012) –After scoring 16 goals for the Cuban national team, Sebrango emigrated to Canada from Cuba in 1998. After spending 14 years in North America's minor leagues, Sebrango made his debut in MLS with the expansion Montreal Impact in 2012.
Kianz Froese (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2014-Present) –Froese was born in Cuba but moved to Canada when he was just one year old. You can read his full story HERE.
Rey Angel Martinez (Colorado Rapids, 2004) –Martinez joined Delgado on the 2004 Rapids, making seven appearances.
