TORONTO — Three members of Cuba's national soccer team defected before a 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament in Canada this week, world soccer's governing body FIFA said Sunday. Three players had gone missing Thursday in Toronto prior to their team's match against Canada a day later which the host won 3-0. “FIFA can confirm that three players defected already last Thursday, leaving the Cuban team with 11 players in the squad for the qualifier against Canada,” FIFA said in a statement. There is a history of Cuban athletes defecting to pursue a potentially lucrative professional career outside Cuba. — Reuters
