HAVANA, December 26, 2025 — A potential exodus is brewing in Cuban beach volleyball, with star player Jorge Luis Alayo reportedly deciding to leave the national program after a dispute over unpaid prize money totaling $107,000. This financial strain threatens to derail the success of one of Cuba’s most promising sports duos.
Financial Woes Plague Cuban Volleyball Stars
The dispute highlights a systemic issue within Cuban sports: delayed payments and insufficient financial support despite international achievements.
- Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo are owed $107,000 in prize money from international competitions, including the 2025 World Championship in Australia.
- Alayo has decided to leave the Cuban national team, while Díaz remains committed but acknowledges the payment issues.
- The Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) has struggled to fund the duo’s participation in key international events.
- This situation raises concerns about the sustainability of elite sports in Cuba and the potential loss of talented athletes.
The news surfaced initially on the Cuban Sp1ke Facebook page and was subsequently detailed by 14ymedio, exposing a recurring problem within the Cuban sports system. Despite consistent success on the world stage, athletes are often left waiting for promised financial rewards.
According to reports, Díaz and Alayo have yet to receive funds earned from competitions, including the World Championship held in Australia in December 2025. Díaz confirmed the payment delay, stating, “the money thing is true,” but emphasized his desire to continue representing Cuba. “I have not asked for the withdrawal, I want to continue playing,” he said, adding, “I know that they will pay it, because that is what has happened before.” However, he revealed that Alayo has made the firm decision to leave the program and is already making arrangements to depart.
The financial difficulties extend beyond delayed payments. The FCV has, at times, been unable to cover the costs of the pair’s participation in international events, such as the Challenge tournament in Veracruz, limiting their opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents.
A Dynamic Duo Facing an Uncertain Future
Díaz and Alayo have been a dominant force in Cuban beach volleyball for the past decade. Their accolades include gold medals at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Mexico and a victory at the Moscow Open tournament on the Russian Beach Volleyball Circuit in 2025. They consistently rank among the top ten teams in the world.
What impact does the lack of financial support have on the motivation and performance of Cuban athletes? This question looms large as the situation unfolds. Losing a player of Alayo’s caliber would be a significant setback for Cuban beach volleyball, given his experience, chemistry with Díaz, and international competitive level.
The current situation underscores a broader debate about the sustainability of elite sports in Cuba. Athletes do not directly receive prize money from international competitions; instead, it is channeled through national sports organizations, leading to delays and diminished returns. In a country where economic support for sports is limited, maintaining motivation and high performance becomes increasingly challenging, even for the most successful athletes.
This isn’t an isolated incident. In 2020, Cuban chess player Roberto García Pantoja publicly denounced the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) for failing to pay his Grand Master category fees. Three years later, volleyball players in the National League voiced complaints about unpaid cash prizes for championship wins. These recurring issues suggest a systemic problem that threatens to drive away Cuba’s top athletic talent.
As 2026 begins, the future of this celebrated duo hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the challenges facing Cuban athletes and the urgent need for systemic reform.
