The Central American and Caribbean Games Have Come to a Close, Santo Domingo 2026. Cuba was crowned champion in both the men’s and women’s handball tournaments.
25th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games is the region’s premier sporting event, with more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries participating.
The handball tournament took place from July 29 to August 7. Both champions earned direct qualification for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.
Teams participating in the women’s and men’s divisions are: Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
Women’s Competition Results
Group A consisted of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, while Group B consisted of Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela.
In the tournament opener, Mexico beat Costa Rica 29–20, Puerto Rico beat Guatemala 30–24, Cuba beat Venezuela 32–23, and the Dominican Republic beat Nicaragua 45–19.
Second day of competition for the women produced the following results: Venezuela lost 23-33 to Mexico, Nicaragua lost 30-40 to Puerto Rico, Cuba defeated Costa Rica 32-19, and Guatemala lost 14-25 to the Dominican Republic.
On the third day, Venezuela earned its first victory against Costa Rica, 27-17; Guatemala defeated Nicaragua, 31-26; Cuba beat Mexico, 37-23; and the host team edged out Puerto Rico, 24-22.
Placement round, Guatemala defeated Costa Rica 20-15, and Venezuela beat Nicaragua 45-28. In the semifinals, the Dominican Republic beat Mexico 29-27, and Cuba edged out Puerto Rico 29-28.
In the tournament’s final match, Costa Rica defeated Nicaragua 28-25, while Guatemala lost to Venezuela 26-18 and finished in fifth place.
Mexico took the bronze after defeating Puerto Rico 32-28, while Cuba claimed the gold by beating the Dominican Republic 35-17
Women’s ranking
1. Cuba
2. Dominican Republic
3. Mexico
4. Puerto Rico
5. Venezuela
6. Nicaragua
7. Guatemala
8. Costa Rica
Men’s Competition Results
As for the men’s groups, Group A consisted of Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Group B consists of Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Tournament began on July 30 with Mexico defeating Costa Rica 31–28, Puerto Rico beating Venezuela 28–25, Cuba defeating Guatemala 36–20, and the host team beating Nicaragua 40–24.
On the second day of the men’s tournament, Guatemala lost to Mexico 18-30, Puerto Rico beat Nicaragua 39-29, Costa Rica lost to Cuba 20-32, and the Dominican Republic defeated Venezuela 37-20.
In the final matches of the group stage, Costa Rica defeated Guatemala 28–25, Venezuela defeated Nicaragua 31–26, Cuba defeated Mexico 35–22, and the Dominican Republic lost to Puerto Rico 25–27.
Knockout stage, Venezuela defeated Guatemala 26-20, Nicaragua lost to Costa Rica 28-29, and Cuba defeated the host team 32-28.
On the final day of the tournament, Guatemala lost to Nicaragua 20-27 in the 7th/8th-place game, while Costa Rica defeated Venezuela in the 5th/6th-place game.
In the bronze medal match, the Dominican Republic narrowly defeated Mexico 25-24, and the gold went to Cuba, which beat Puerto Rico 34-29.
Men’s ranking
1. Cuba
2. Puerto Rico
3. Dominican Republic
4. Mexico
5. Costa Rica
6. Venezuela
7. Nicaragua
8. Guatemala
More info at: Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo 2026
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Photos: Courtesy of JCC2026 / Orlando Ramos
