There was no official announcement from the IHF or PATHF (Website down yet again), but the Chile Federation website celebrates the news that Chile will be participating in the 2009 Men‘s World Championships in Croatia. The Chilean notice also indicates that Chile will be playing in Group B, the same group that Cuba had been drawn into
At the Men’s PATHF Championship this past summer Cuba beat Chile 37-30 for 3rd place. Chile did demonstrate that they were the 4th best team at that tournament, though as they beat both Greenland and Canada (the two previous PATHF 3rd place finishers) in Group play to advance to the semifinals. Chile is a team on the rise with several players currently playing in Europe. Additionally, they actually had the top two scorers at the PATHF Championship, Emil Feutchmann with 34 and Francisco Chacana with 27 goals respective in 6 matches.
This is not the first time that Cuba has qualified and not participated in a major international tournament. Notably they qualified for the 1992 Olympic Games, but declined to participate due to financial constraints. Cuba also has a history of handball defections with several former National Team players currently playing professionally in Europe.
2009 World Championships Playing Schedule: http://www.ihf.info/upload/News/20081014_PlayingSchedule_MWCH_CRO.pdf
Chile Website Announcement (Spanish): http://www.balonmano.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177&Itemid=30
2008 Men’s PATHF Results: http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.525