Cuba posted a win and a loss today in the men's and women's water polo tournament during its competition debut at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, a multi-sport event whose official opening ceremony is scheduled for this coming Friday, July 24, and which will run through August 8.

At the Juan Pablo Duarte Aquatic Center, one of the primary venues for the Dominican event, the men's squad claimed its first victory by defeating Guatemala 23–13. The match opened up in the final period following a tight contest through the first three quarters, which saw the Cubans holding a narrow 14–12 lead.

Pedro Ponza and Remmy de Armas served as the driving forces for the team managed by Mario Bermúdez, scoring five and four goals, respectively. For Guatemala, Michael Minera and Diego García were the standout performers, also contributing five and four goals each.

Conversely, the women's national team started its tournament campaign on a losing note, falling 8–15 to Colombia. The South American squad established control early in the match and ultimately secured the win with quarter scores of 4–3, 4–1, 3–3, and 4–1.

According to the official Santo Domingo 2026 website, the South Americans were superior in action shots, scoring nine goals on 29 attempts (32%), whereas Cuba converted four out of 11 (37%). Colombia was also more effective during extra-man power plays, capitalizing on four out of five opportunities (80%), compared to three out of six (50%) for the Caribbean team.

Among the Cuban players, Caridad Suárez stood out with two goals, while Sara Vargas led the victorious Colombian squad as the star player with five goals.

Both teams will return to action this Tuesday as the preliminary group stage continues. The women's team will face Guatemala in the morning session, while the men's team will play a crucial match against Mexico.