List of Cuban football players who have defected to the United States

Since 1999, 55 Cuban football players have defected to the United States in an attempt to further their professional career or improve their standard of living.

They do it because they feel that their family will be proud of them if they make it to the professional level and many of those players have realized that they can achieve that goal.

As a general rule, Cuban players who defect are not allowed to rejoin the Cuba national team for international matches.

Cuban international forward Maykel Galindo sought to stay in the U.S. after he had arrived in the country with the Cuba national team for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

[13] Two players defected during the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament which was hosted in Vancouver, Canada.