Cuba men's national volleyball team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Cuba

Nickname(s)

Los leones del voleibol cubano (Lions of Cuban volleyball)

Association

Federación Cubana De Voleibol

Confederation

NORCECA

Head coach

Jesus Angel Cruz Lopez

FIVB ranking

7 (as of September 2014)

Uniforms




Home




Away

Summer Olympics

Appearances

7 (First in 1972)

Best result

(1976)

World Championship

Appearances

14 (First in 1956)

Best result

(1990, 2010)

FIVB World Cup

Appearances

8 (First in 1969)

Best result

(1989)

The Cuba men's national volleyball team (Spanish: Selección masculina de voleibol de Cuba) represents Cuba in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches, governed by Federación Cubana De Voleibol. Cuba in the 1976 Summer Olympics won their first bronze medal. In FIVB competitions, the national team won one gold each at World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, World League and Challenger Cup. Cuba also attained two silver and two bronze World Championship medals and have won the NORCECA Championship 15 times with a 6-peat record.

Results

Olympic Games

1972 – 10th place
1976 – Bronze medal
1980 – 7th place
1984 – Qualified but withdrew due 1984 boycott
1988 – Quafified but withdrew due 1988 boycott
1992 – 4th place
1996 – 6th place
2000 – 7th place
2004 – Didn't Qualify
2008 – Didn't Qualify
2012 – Didn't Qualify
2016 – 11th place
2020 – Didn't Qualify
2024 – Didn't Qualify

World Championship

1956 – 19th place
1966 – 17th place
1970 – 13th place
1974 – 8th place
1978 – Bronze medal
1982 – 10th place
1986 – 5th place
1990 – Silver medal
1994 – 4th place
1998 – Bronze medal
2002 – 19th place
2006 – 15th place
2010 – Silver medal
2014 – 11th place
2018 – 18th place
2022 – 14th place
2025 – Qualified

World Cup

1969 – 9th place
1977 – Bronze medal
1981 – Silver medal
1989 – Gold medal
1991 – Silver medal
1995 – 6th place
1999 – Silver medal
2011 – 5th place

World Grand Champions Cup

1993 – 3 Bronze medal
1997 – 3 Bronze medal
2001 – 1 Gold medal
2009 – 2 Silver medal

World League

1991 – 2 Silver medal
1992 – 2 Silver medal
1993 – 4th place
1994 – 2 Silver medal
1995 – 3 Bronze medal
1996 – 4th place
1997 – 2 Silver medal
1998 – 1 Gold medal
1999 – 2 Silver medal
2000 – 8th place
2001 – 5th place
2002 – 13th place
2003 – 13th place
2004 – 7th place
2005 – 3 Bronze medal
2006 – 7th place
2007 – 7th place
2008 – 10th place
2009 – 4th place
2010 – 4th place
2011 – 8th place
2012 – 3 Bronze medal
2013 – 13th place
2014 – 21st place
2015 – 18th place
2016 – 22nd place
2017 – Withdrew

Nations League

2023 – 13th place
2024 – 9th place

Challenger Cup

2018 – 4th place
2019 – 2 Silver medal
2022 – 1 Gold medal
2023 – Participated in Nations League

Pan American Games

1959 – 7th place
1967 – 3 Bronze medal
1971 – 1 Gold medal
1975 – 1 Gold medal
1979 – 1 Gold medal
1983 – 2 Silver medal
1987 – 2 Silver medal
1991 – 1 Gold medal
1995 – 3 Bronze medal
1999 – 1 Gold medal
2003 – 2 Silver medal
2007 – 3 Bronze medal
2011 – 2 Silver medal
2015 – 5th place
2019 – 2 Silver medal
2023 – 4th place

NORCECA Championship

1969 – 1 Gold medal
1971 – 1 Gold medal
1973 – 2 Silver medal
1975 – 1 Gold medal
1977 – 1 Gold medal
1979 – 1 Gold medal
1981 – 1 Gold medal
1983 – 3 Bronze medal
1985 – 2 Silver medal
1987 – 1 Gold medal
1989 – 1 Gold medal
1991 – 1 Gold medal
1993 – 1 Gold medal
1995 – 1 Gold medal
1997 – 1 Gold medal
1999 – 2 Silver medal
2001 – 1 Gold medal
2003 – 3 Bronze medal
2005 – 2 Silver medal
2007 – 3 Bronze medal
2009 – 1 Gold medal
2011 – 1 Gold medal
2013 – 3 Bronze medal
2015 – 2 Silver medal
2017 – did not participate
2019 – 1 Gold medal
2021 – 4th place
2023 – 3 Bronze medal

Pan-American Cup

2006 – 5th place
2007 – 3 Bronze medal
2014 – 1 Gold medal
2016 – 1 Gold medal
2017 – 3 Bronze medal
2018 – 3 Bronze medal
2019 – 1 Gold medal
2021 – Withdrew
2022 – 1 Gold medal

America's Cup

1998 – 3 Bronze medal
1999 – 4th place
2000 – 1 Gold medal
2001 – 2 Silver medal
2005 – 3 Bronze medal
2007 – 3 Bronze medal
2008 – 1 Gold medal

Central American and Caribbean Games

1930 – 2 Silver medal
1935 – 3 Bronze medal
1938 – 3 Bronze medal
1946 – 1 Gold medal
1950 – 2 Silver medal
1954 – 3 Bronze medal
1962 – 4th place
1966 – 1 Gold medal
1970 – 1 Gold medal
1974 – 1 Gold medal
1978 – 1 Gold medal
1982 – 1 Gold medal
1986 – 1 Gold medal
1990 – 1 Gold medal
1993 – 1 Gold medal
1998 – 1 Gold medal
2002 – Did not participate
2006 – 2 Silver medal
2010 – Did not participate
2014 – 3 Bronze medal
2018 – 4th place
2023 – 1 Gold medal

Goodwill Games

1986 – did not participate
1990 – 3 Bronze medal

Team

Current squad

The following is the Cuban roster in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Men Nations League

Head coach: Jesus Cruz

No.	Name	Date of birth	Height	Weight	2022-23 Club	2023-24 Club	2024-25 Club
01 1	Masso, JoséJosé Masso	2 December 1997	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	96 kg (212 lb)	Sporting CP	VfB Friedrichshafen	VfB Friedrichshafen
02 2	Melgarejo, OsnielOsniel Melgarejo	18 December 1997	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	86 kg (190 lb)	Allianz Milano	Allianz Milano	Dynamo-LO
04 4	Sánchez, MichaelMichael Sánchez	5 June 1986	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	100 kg (220 lb)	Sao Jose Dos Campos	Minas Tenis Clube	Goiás Vôlei
05 5	Concepción, JavierJavier Concepción	26 December 1997	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	92 kg (203 lb)	Poitiers	Poitiers	Nizhny Novgorod
6 6	Thondike Mejías, ChristianChristian Thondike Mejías	28 May 2001	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	76 kg (168 lb)	CS Dinamo București	Cizre Belediyespor	Cizre Belediyespor
7 7	Garcia, YonderYonder Garcia(L)	23 February 1993	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)	78 kg (172 lb)	Al Ahly	Al Ahly	Al Ahly
10 10	Gutiérrez, MiguelMiguel Gutiérrez	21 February 1997	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)	90 kg (200 lb)	Volley Prata	Altekma SK	Altekma SK
11 11	Taboada, LivánLiván Taboada	4 October 1998	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)	75 kg (165 lb)	Știința Explorări Baia Mare	SCM Zalău	Surabaya BIN Samator
13 13	Simon, RobertlandyRobertlandy Simon	11 June 1987	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)	110 kg (240 lb)	Gas Sales Piacenza	Gas Sales Piacenza	Gas Sales Piacenza
15 15	Camino, BryanBryan Camino	23 February 2003	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	80 kg (180 lb)	Mayabeque	SK Aich/Dob	SK Aich/Dob
17 17	Alonso, RoamyRoamy Alonso	24 July 1997	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	105 kg (231 lb)	Gas Sales Piacenza	Gas Sales Piacenza	Prisma Taranto
18	Ángel López, MiguelMiguel Ángel López	25 March 1997	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	90 kg (200 lb)	Sada Cruzeiro	Sada Cruzeiro	Panasonic Panthers
22 22	Gutierrez, Jose MiguelJose Miguel Gutierrez	27 October 2001	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)	73 kg (161 lb)	Top Volley Cisterna	Prisma Taranto	Modena Volley
23 23	Yant, MarlonMarlon Yant	23 May 2001	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	100 kg (220 lb)	Cucine Lube Civitanova	Cucine Lube Civitanova	Zenit Saint Petersburg
24 24	Gorguet, AlainAlain Gorguet	28 December 1993	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	84 kg (185 lb)	Free Agent	Free Agent	Pénzügyőr
31 31	Charles, CarlosCarlos Charles	4 October 2000	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	96 kg (212 lb)	Gondomar	Gondomar	SK Aich/Dob

Dream Team Squad

After 2001, many players defected from Cuba seeking better life conditions. Some of them excelled during their pro career, being more often considered the best of their positions. The following list follow 15 men throughout that period of time, that one way or another make history and were called Dream team squad.

Head coach: Gilberto Herrera

No.	Name	Date of birth	Height	Weight	Spike	Block	Club
01 1	Leon Venero, WilfredoWilfredo Leon Venero	31 July 1993	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)	96 kg (212 lb)	380 cm (150 in)	346 cm (136 in)	Sir Safety Perugia
13 13	Simon, RobertlandyRobertlandy Simon	11 June 1987	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)	114 kg (251 lb)	389 cm (153 in)	326 cm (128 in)	Cucine Lube Civitanova
04 4	Leal, YoandryYoandry Leal	31 August 1988	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)	107 kg (236 lb)	371 cm (146 in)	348 cm (137 in)	Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena
05 5	Juantorena, OsmanyOsmany Juantorena	12 August 1985	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	85 kg (187 lb)	370 cm (150 in)	340 cm (130 in)	Cucine Lube Civitanova
14 14	Hierrezuelo, RaydelRaydel Hierrezuelo	14 July 1987	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)	87 kg (192 lb)	340 cm (130 in)	335 cm (132 in)	Foynikas Syros
9	Sánchez, MichaelMichael Sánchez	5 June 1986	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	100 kg (220 lb)	365 cm (144 in)	340 cm (130 in)	Korean Air Jumbos
19 19	Hernandez, FernandoFernando Hernandez	11 September 1989	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	78 kg (172 lb)	358 cm (141 in)	339 cm (133 in)	Halkbank
15	Camejo, OreolOreol Camejo	22 July 1986	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)	94 kg (207 lb)	354 cm (139 in)	326 cm (128 in)	Zenit Saint Petersburg
1 1	Marshall, LeonelLeonel Marshall	25 September 1979	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	96 kg (212 lb)	383 cm (151 in)	353 cm (139 in)	LPR Piacenza
7	Dennis, AngelAngel Dennis	13 June 1977	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)	83 kg (183 lb)	360 cm (140 in)	330 cm (130 in)	Sporting CP
14	Hernández, IhosvanyIhosvany Hernández	6 June 1972	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	103 kg (227 lb)	368 cm (145 in)	349 cm (137 in)	Retired