Crazy for football in Cuba

Americas Now

Baseball has always been big in Cuba. But how about football? Correspondent Michael Voss tells us how a recent match between Cuba and the U.S. in Havana, shows how the sport has gained in popularity. And how a new generation of Cubans are discovering a love for the game.

Despite their differences, the United States and Cuba have always shared a passion for baseball. It is by far the largest and most popular sport on the island. But football, or soccer as it’s known in the U.S., has seen a growing fanbase in Cuba. One reason for that is that Cuban state-run tv now broadcasts foreign football games. In addition, to attracting a large audience, it has made football jerseys fashionable in Cuba. Among the most favored are Barcelona, Real Madrid and Italy’s Milan.

The New York Cosmos were the first athletic team to travel to Cuba from the U.S. since both countries announced the renewal of diplomatic ties. Brazilian football star Pele accompanied the New York team to Havana. Pele played for the Cosmos in the 1970’s. When he appeared at the Havana stadium in June, Pele received a standing ovation from the crowd.

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Crazy for Football in Cuba

Baseball has always been big in Cuba. But how about football? Correspondent Michael Voss tells us how a recent match between Cuba and the U.S. in Havana, shows how the sport has gained in popularity. And how a new generation of Cubans are discovering a love for the game.