The Baseball5 World Cup (B5WC, and sometimes referred to as the Senior Baseball5 World Cup)[1] is a mixed-gender Baseball5 (B5) world championship that occurs every two years, with the first edition held in 2022 in Mexico and contested by 12 countries.[2][3] It is governed by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).[4]
Most recent season or competition: 2024 Baseball5 World Cup | |
Sport | Baseball5 |
---|---|
First season | 2022 |
Administrator | World Baseball Softball Confederation |
No. of teams | 12 |
Most recent champion(s) | Cuba (2nd title) (2024) |
Most titles | Cuba (2 titles) |
Related competitions | Youth Baseball5 World Cup |
Official website | baseball5 |
History
editThe inaugural B5WC was originally planned to happen in December 2020 in Mexico.[5] The COVID-19 pandemic led to the delay of the B5WC to June 2021;[6] however, the continued impact of the pandemic delayed the B5WC further. It was later decided that the WC would be played every two years, starting in 2022.[3]
The 14-team 2020 European Baseball5 Championship held in February and March saw France and Lithuania take the two available Europe berths to qualify for the inaugural B5WC.[7][8] The Oceania qualifier was scheduled to be played in Australia in 2021.[9] The Asia qualifiers were scheduled to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April 2021,[10] but were then postponed due to COVID-19 to August 17–19, 2022.[11][2]
The first edition of the tournament, held in Mexico City, was won by Cuba, who finished the championship undefeated.[12]
In April 2023, it was confirmed that Hong Kong will host the second edition of the tournament, from October 7 to 12, 2024.[13] On the eve of the tournament, it was announced that future editions will have 16 teams (split into four groups) and play 56 games total.[14]
In October 2024 it was announced that Rome will host the 2026 tournament.[15]
Format
editThe 16 countries participating in the World Cup are geographically broken down as follows:[16]
- The host nation automatically qualifies.
- The host nation of the previous edition automatically qualifies.
- 4 countries from the Americas
- 3 from Europe
- 2 from Africa
- 3 from Asia
- 1 from Oceania
- 1 Wild Card (selected by WBSC)
The 16 countries play a total of 56 games over four or five days.[16]
Each team has five active players and eight players total on the roster, with the mixed-gender nature of the tournament requiring teams to have half of their roster to be of each gender, and at least two active players per gender in the game.[5][17]
Players must be a minimum of 15 years old (though they can be 14 during the tournament and turn 15 later in the year).[18]
Results
editYear | Host | Final | Third place game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Champions | Score | Runners-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | ||||
2022 Details |
Mexico City |
Cuba |
2–0 | Japan |
Chinese Taipei |
2–0 | Venezuela | ||
2024 Details |
Hong Kong |
Cuba |
2–0 | Japan |
France |
2–0 | Venezuela |
Medal table
editRank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cuba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2 | Japan | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
3 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (4 entries) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Participating nations
edit- 1st — Champion
- 2nd — Runner-up
- 3rd — Third place
- # — Position
- × — Withdrew
- — Hosts
Teams | 2022 |
2024 |
Years |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | × | 12th | 1 |
China | 9th | 1 | |
Chinese Taipei | 3rd | 5th | 2 |
Cuba | 1st | 1st | 2 |
France | 9th | 3rd | 2 |
Hong Kong | 12th | 10th | 2 |
Japan | 2nd | 2nd | 2 |
Kenya | 8th | 1 | |
Lithuania | 11th | 8th | 2 |
Mexico | 5th | 6th | 2 |
South Africa | 7th | 11th | 2 |
South Korea | 10th | 1 | |
Tunisia | 6th | 7th | 2 |
Venezuela | 4th | 4th | 2 |
No. of Teams |
12 | 12 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ WBSC Baseball5 World Cups Hosting Bid Outline (Archived 8 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine) World Baseball Softball Confederation
- ^ a b "WBSC Asia Baseball5 World Cup Qualifier to take place in Malaysia". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ a b "Inaugural Baseball5 World Cup to take place in 2022". www.insidethegames.biz. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "New bidding guidelines revealed for WBSC Baseball, Softball, Baseball5 World Cups – Asia Softball Confederation". Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ a b "Continental quota confirmed for Baseball5 World Cup & Youth Baseball5 World Cup". wbsc.org. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "WBSC Executive Board postpones Baseball5 World Cups to June 2021". wbsc.org. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "France win inaugural Baseball5 European title by defeating Lithuania". www.insidethegames.biz. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "France are the first Baseball5 European champions". wbsc.org. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "Baseball Australia". baseball.com.au. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "OCA » Kuala Lumpur to host first continental qualifier for Baseball5 World Cup". ocasia.org. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "Asia Cup Baseball5, qualifiers for WBSC World Cup, postponed to a later date". wbsc.org. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
- ^ "Cuba crowned first ever WBSC Baseball5 World Champions". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Tavarez, Tuto (2023-04-20). "Copa Mundial de Béisbol 5 será en Hong Kong 2024". Momento Deportivo RD (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Growth of Baseball5 sees WBSC approve expanded format for future World Cups". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "Rome, Italy to host the 2026 Baseball5 World Cup". fibs.it. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ a b "WBSC reveals Continent Quota for expanded Baseball5 and Youth Baseball5 World Cups". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
- ^ OFFICIAL WBSC BASEBALL5 RULEBOOK 2021 (Archived 26 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine) World Baseball Softball Confederation "In mixed gender competitions the defensive team must have at all times a minimum of two athletes per gender on the field."
- ^ "From 14 to 45 years old - WBSC Baseball5 World Cup open to everyone". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
External links
edit- Official website
- Baseball5 at WBSC.org