A FIFA spokesperson has confirmed three Cuban players defected prior to last night’s game in Toronto. The fourth missing player was ill.

Via CP24:

“As with any Cuban sport team that travels around the world, they’re all chasing the American dream,” he said. “And it’s difficult to try to keep the team together … Obviously it’s a difficult situation for the team and it’s tough for me to talk about it.”

In January two players from the Women’s national team defected after a game against Canada in Vancouver. One wonders if the Cuban government will forsake international competition in order to keep their citizens from ‘tarnishing their nation’s image’ – words I could imagine a Cuban gov. official saying. Hopefully that will not be the case.