Updated on
Summary FIFA confirmed that the players defected on Thursday, one day before the game in Toronto.
The search continued for three Cuba players on Saturday after they disappeared just before a World Cup qualifying match against Canada.FIFA confirmed in an email to Canadian Press that the players defected on Thursday, one day before the game in Toronto.The FIFA official would not release any further details.The defecting players left Cuba coach Alexander Gonzalez with only 11 players on his team for the match. He said the missing fourth player fell ill and wasnt able to make it to the game.A spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection would not confirm reports that the players tried to cross into the United States at the Niagara Falls border point on Thursday.Tom Rusert cited privacy concerns as a reason why he couldnt give out any information. He added that no arrests were made in relation to this case.On Friday, Gonzalez lamented the departures of the missing players.As with any Cuban sport team that travels around the world, theyre all chasing the American dream, he said. And its difficult to try to keep the team together. ... Obviously its a difficult situation for the team and its tough for me to talk about it.Canada beat Cuba 3-0 in the match.Last January, two players with the Cuba womens team fled to the U.S. following a match against Canada in Vancouver.
