(NewsNation) — Due to players being unable to secure travel visas under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump restricting entry into the United States from several countries, a youth baseball team from Venezuela will miss this weekend’s Senior League World Series in South Carolina.
Venezuela is included among the countries affected by the order, resulting in the Cacique Mara team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, being unable to join the tournament. Little League International confirmed that their participation in the 12-team event, composed of six U.S. teams and six international teams starting Friday, was not possible, as reported by NewsNation affiliate WSPA.
This week, the team received news that their travel visa applications were rejected due to the executive order signed by Trump in early June. Ultimas Noticias reported that Venezuelan players traveled to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to apply for visas but were informed they were “ineligible” because of the Trump order.
Another team from Venezuela won the Senior World Series in 2024. Tournament officials reported that a team from Victoria, Mexico, will take the place of the Venezuelan squad in this weekend’s event.
Little League International called the team’s inability to participate in the tournament “extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes,” the organization said in a statement provided to WSPA.
The president of the Venezuelan team said that players are “demoralized” by not being able to travel to the United States, Yahoo! Sports reported.
“All they know how to do is play baseball,” Kendry Gutiérrez said in a statement that was translated by World Baseball. “They want to compete and honor Venezuela and Latin America. They didn’t pose any threat; they’re 15-year-old kids who want to win the World Cup.”
The Trump presidential proclamation limits entry from some countries but provides exceptions to athletes traveling to the United States for major sporting events, including the World Cup and Olympics. However, the Senior World Series is not considered a major sporting event, which is determined by the Secretary of State, Yahoo! Sports reported.
The United States is scheduled to host major events in the upcoming years, including the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028.
