Cuban Men’s Field Hockey Claims Gold in Santo Domingo 2026

Cuban men's field hockey defeated Trinidad and Tobago in a penalty shootout, matching the gold medal won the previous day by their female counterparts at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games.

At the specialized stadium in the capital, the Cubans took an early lead with a goal in the first quarter, but their opponents managed to equalize in the third—a goal the Cubans quickly answered before the end of that period.

In the fourth quarter, Trinidad and Tobago scored once again, forcing the match into a penalty shootout that concluded 2-1 in favor of the Cubans.

The offensive effort was led once more by the skilled Iraidys Calderón and Marlon de Jesús Sánchez. Ultimately, tactical intelligence and teamwork allowed the squad to withstand the opponent's intense pressure.

,The Caribbean team kicked off the tournament on strong footing by defeating Jamaica 1-0 and Venezuela 4-0, before closing out the Group B regular phase with a decisive 7-5 victory over the host nation.

To advance to the final title match, they eliminated the defending champions from Mexico. Trinidad and Tobago earned their spot in the final by defeating Venezuela in the semifinals.

At the 2023 San Salvador Games, the Mexican team took home the trophy, Trinidad and Tobago claimed silver, and Cuba settled for bronze; with this victory, Cuba has restored its historical dominance in the sport.

The women's team also conquered gold by defeating Mexico 2-0, likewise in a penalty shootout.