Little League World Series in Europe

Europe first participated in the Little League World Series in 1960. Teams from Europe were given a berth in the LLWS each year between 1960 and 2000 (with the exception of the temporary ban of international teams in 1975). In 2001, the region was split into two co-terminus regions: Europe (later EMEA) Region and Transatlantic Region. The Europe Region comprised mostly native European teams while the Transatlantic Region comprised mostly American expatriates. This distinction was eliminated in 2008; from 2008 to 2012, teams made up of either native Europeans or American expatriates were eligible to qualify from the Europe Region.

Europe and Africa Little League Championship
Most recent season or competition:
2024 Little League World Series qualification
SportBaseball
Founded1960; 64 years ago (1960)
CountriesEuropean and African
Most recent
champion(s)
Czech Republic South Czech Republic Little League, Brno, Czech Republic
Most titlesSaudi Arabia Arabian American Little League, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (17)

Starting with the 2013 LLWS, the region was renamed the Europe and Africa Region. African countries were added as a result of a major reorganization of the international (non–U.S.) regions. This move was triggered by Little League's announcement that Australia would receive its own LLWS berth starting in 2013. Two Middle Eastern countries, Israel and Turkey, have been part of European regions since they instituted Little League programs, as they were then members of the European zone of the International Baseball Federation and remain in the same zone under baseball's modern international governing body, the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Israel and Turkey have stayed in the renamed Europe and Africa Region to this day.[1]

No team from the European region has ever reached the final of the Little League World Series. The best finishes for a European team occurred in 1979, 1993 and 1994, when European teams reached the semifinals. Aviano, Italy, made it that far — in the 8-team format — in 1979. Kaiserslautern, Germany and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia made the International final in back-to-back years in 1993 and 1994.

Europe and Africa Region Countries

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European champions (1960–2000)

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
1960 Berlin Command LL   Berlin Sixth Place 1–2
1961 Pirmasens Housing Area LL   Pirmasens Eighth Place 0–3
1962 Poitiers Post LL   Poitiers Sixth Place 1–2
1963 İzmir LL   İzmir Fourth Place 0–2
1964 Wiesbaden LL   Wiesbaden Air Force Base Eighth Place 0–3
1965 Rota LL   Rota Eighth Place 0–3
1966 Rhein-Main LL   Rhein-Main Air Base Seventh Place 1–2
1967 Rota LL   Rota Seventh Place (tie) 0–2
1968 Wiesbaden LL   Wiesbaden Air Force Base Eighth Place 0–3
1969 Wiesbaden LL   Wiesbaden Air Force Base Sixth Place 1–2
1970 Wiesbaden LL   Wiesbaden Air Force Base Sixth Place 1–2
1971 Madrid LL   Madrid Fourth Place 1–2
1972 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Eighth Place 0–3
1973 Bitburg AB LL   Bitburg Air Base Seventh Place 1–2
1974 Athena Airport LL   Athens Eighth Place 0–3
1975 No participant
1976 Kaiserslautern LL   Kaiserslautern Sixth Place 1–2
1977 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Seventh Place 1–2
1978 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Eighth Place 0–3
1979 Aviano Air Base LL   Aviano Fourth Place 1–2
1980 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Eighth Place 0–3
1981 SHAPE LL   Waterloo Eighth Place 0–3
1982 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Fifth Place 2–1
1983 Arabian Gulf LL   Al Khobar Seventh Place 1–2
1984 Brussels Sports Association LL   Brussels Seventh Place 1–2
1985 Arabian Gulf LL   Al Khobar Eighth Place 0–3
1986 Torrejon Air Base LL   Madrid Eighth Place 0–3
1987 Aramco LL   Dhahran Fifth Place (tie) 1–1
1988 Aramco LL   Dhahran Fifth Place 2–1
1989 Aramco LL   Dhahran Sixth Place 1–2
1990 Falcon LL   Ramstein Air Base Seventh Place (tie) 0–2
1991 Arabian American LL   Dhahran Eighth Place 0–3
1992 Kaiserslautern LL   Kaiserslautern 4th Place, Group Stage 0–3
1993 Kaiserslautern LL   Kaiserslautern Third Place (tie) 2–2
1994 Arabian American LL   Dhahran Third Place (tie) 2–2
1995 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd Place, Group Stage 1–2
1996 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 4th Place, Group Stage 0–3
1997 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd Place, Group Stage 1–2
1998 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd Place, Group Stage 1–2
1999 Ramstein American LL   Ramstein Air Base 4th Place, Group Stage 0–3
2000 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd Place, Group Stage 1–2

Europe/Europe, Middle East & Africa Region (2001–2007)

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In 2001, with the LLWS expanding to sixteen teams, the European region split into two co-terminous regions. The Europe region consisted of teams that were primarily made up of players native to each country; no team could have more than three players from the United States, Canada, or Japan. The Europe region was named the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region between 2004 and 2007; however, no Middle Eastern or African team participated in qualifiers for the EMEA Series berth (although Kenya sent a team to the European qualifier in 2001[2] and South Africa did the same in 2003[3]). In 2008, Little League removed the native players rule and split the EMEA and Transatlantic region into the Europe and Middle East-Africa regions. The following teams represented the European region after 2000:

Year Champion City LLWS Record
2001 Khovrino LL   Moscow 4th place, Pool D 0–3
2002 Khovrino LL   Moscow 4th place, Pool D 0–3
2003 Khovrino LL   Moscow 3rd place, Pool D 1–2
2004 Kutno LL   Kutno 4th place, Pool C 0–3
2005 Brateevo LL   Moscow 4th place, Pool C 0–3
2006 Brateevo LL   Moscow 4th place, Pool D 0–3
2007 Windmills LL   Apeldoorn 4th place, Pool D 0–3

Transatlantic Region (2001–2007)

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The Transatlantic region encompassed the same territory as the Europe/EMEA region, but consisted of teams that were made up of at least 51% American, Canadian, or Japanese citizens.

Regional championship

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Below are the champions of the Transatlantic region, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green.

Year  Austria  Belgium  England  Germany  Italy  Netherlands  Saudi Arabia  Spain  United Arab Emirates
2001 Vienna LL
Vienna
Belgium Int'l LL
Brussels
London Area Youth LL
London
Eifel LL
Bitburg/Spangdahlem
Naples LL
Naples
No Participant Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2002 N/A
Austria
N/A
Belgium
N/A
England
N/A
Germany
N/A
Italy
N/A
Netherlands
Arabian American LL
Dharhan
N/A
Spain
No Participant
2003 AIBC Little League
Vienna
SHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth
London
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2004 No Participant SHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth
London
Ramstein American LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Geilenkirchen-American/Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum/Geilenkirchen
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Madrid LL
Madrid
No Participant
2005 No Participant SHAPE and Brussels LL
Brussels
East Anglia LL
Suffolk
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2006 No Participant SHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth LL
London
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
No Participant Arabian American LL
Dhahran
No Participant Dubai LL
Dubai
2007 No Participant No Participant London Area Youth LL
London
Stuttgart American LL
Stuttgart
Naples LL
Naples
No Participant Arabian American LL
Dhahran
No Participant Dubai LL
Dubai

LLWS performance

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2001 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd place, Pool C 1–2
2002 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd place, Pool C 2–1
2003 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd place, Pool C 1–2
2004 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 3rd place, Pool D 1–2
2005 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 4th place, Pool D 0–3
2006 Arabian American LL   Dhahran Int'l Semifinal 2–2
2007 Arabian American LL   Dhahran 4th place, Pool C 0–2

Europe Region (2008–2012)

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From 2008 to 2012, Europe had its own region.

Regional Championships

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Below are the champions of the Europe region, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green. A Dash, "-", indicates country had no participant that year.

Year  Belarus  Belgium  Bulgaria  Czech Republic  England  Germany  Hungary  Ireland  Italy  Lithuania  Moldova  Netherlands  Poland  Serbia  Sweden  Turkey  Ukraine
2008 - Brussels LL
Brussels
Dupnitsa LL
Dupnitsa
South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
Baden Wuerttemberg LL
Mannheim
- Ireland LL
Dublin
Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Windmills Utrecht LL
Utrecht
BUKS Gepardy
Zory LL
Zory
- Malardalen LL
Malardalen
Turkiye LL
Istanbul
Kirovograd Center/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2009 Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
- Dupnitsa LL
Dupnitsa
South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
KMC American LL
Ramstein
- - Marche LL
Marche
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
- Alkmaar LL
Alkmaar
Żory/Rybnik/
Jastrzębie LL
Slask
- - Mediterranean LL
Istanbul
Kirovograd Center/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2010 Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
- South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Youth Area LL
London
KMC American LL
Ramstein
- - Friuli-Venezia Giulia LL
Friuli V.G.
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
Zory/Jastrzebie/
Rybnik LL
Slask
- - - Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2011 Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders West LL
Flanders
- South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
- - - Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
Kutno LL
Kutno
- Stockholm LL
Stockholm
- Kirovograd Center LL/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2012 Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
- South Moravia LL
Prague
London Area Youth LL
London
KMC American LL
Ramstein
MOBSSZ Debrecen/Janossomorja LL
Budapest/
Debrecen/
Jánossomorja
- Lazio LL
Lazio
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
- Nord-Holland LL
Alkmaar
Kutno LL
Kutno
Serbia LL
Belgrad
- - Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd

LLWS Performance

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2008 Emilia LL   Emilia 4th place, Pool C 0–3
2009 KMC American LL   Kaiserslautern 4th place, Pool D 0–3
2010 KMC American LL   Ramstein AB Group Stage 1–2
2011 Rotterdam LL   Rotterdam Round 1 0–3
2012 KMC American LL   Ramstein AB Round 1 0–3

Europe and Africa Region (2013–)

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As noted above, the Europe Region was expanded to include Africa in 2013. Results are as of the 2024 Little League World Series.

Europe-Africa Qualifier

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Starting in 2018, a qualification tournament was added into the Europe and Africa regional tournament as a way of expanding for other countries and teams to be involved. Ten teams have an automatic bid into the regional tournament based on participation and enrollment figures. Additional countries wishing to enter the tournament are placed into the qualifier tournament. The format of the qualifier tournament is a round robin with four teams advancing to an elimination round where the two semifinal winners advanced to the double-elimination regional tournament, although a different format was used in 2023 where four participants in the qualification tournament advanced to the regional tournament.

Year Teams Final 4 Semifinalists
(Advanced to Regional)
Qualifier Tournament
Champions
2018   Austria
  Belarus
  Croatia
  Hungary
  Poland
  Switzerland
1   Austria
2   Hungary
3   Belarus
4   Croatia
  Austria
  Belarus
Championship was
canceled due to
inclement weather.
2019[4]   Belgium
  Croatia
  Hungary
  Poland
  Switzerland
1   Croatia
2   Switzerland
3   Belgium
4   Hungary
  Croatia
  Belgium
  Croatia
2023[5] Pool A
  France
  Poland
  Switzerland
  Kyiv, Ukraine

Pool B
  Germany
  Israel
  Lithuania
  Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Advanced to Regional

  Kyiv, Ukraine
  Germany
  France
  Switzerland
No semifinal games held No champion designated
2024[6]   Croatia
  Estonia
  Israel
  Lithuania
  Gdańsk, Poland
  Wrocław, Poland
  Ukraine
1   Israel
2   Croatia
3   Lithuania
4   Estonia
  Israel
  Lithuania
  Israel

Regional Championships

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Below are the champions of the Europe and Africa, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green. A Dash, "-", indicates country had no participant that year.

Year  Austria  Belarus  Belgium  Croatia  Czech Republic  France  Germany  Hungary  Israel  Italy  Lithuania  Moldova  Netherlands  Poland  Romania  Serbia  South Africa  Spain  Switzerland  Uganda  United Kingdom  Ukraine
2013 East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
- - South Moravia LL
Brno
Haute Normandie LL
Rouen
KMC American LL
Ramstein
- - Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
- Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
- - Serbia LL
Belgrade
- - - - London Area Youth LL
London
Rivne LL
Rivne
2014 - Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
- South Moravia LL
Brno
Aquitaine LL
Aquitaine
KMC American LL
Ramstein
- - Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
BUKS
GepardyŻory LL
- Serbia LL
Belgrade
- Catalunya LL
Catalunya
- - London Area Youth LL
London
Kirovograd LL
Kirovograd
2015 East Austria LL
Vienna
Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Brussels LL
Brussels
- South Moravia LL
Brno
- KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central LL
Budapest
- Emilia LL
Emilia
- Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
Zory/
Jastrzebie/
Rybnik LL
- - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
- AVRS Secondary School LL
Kampala
London Youth Baseball LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2016 Austria East LL
Vienna
Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
Croatia North LL
Zagreb
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Ile-de-France 2 LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central/
Eastern LL
Budapest
- Emilia LL
Emilia
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
- Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
- - - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
- - London Youth Baseball LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2017 East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Flanders West LL
Brussels
Croatia North LL
Zagreb
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
- KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central/
Eastern LL
Budapest
- Emilia LL
Emilia
- - Den Haag LL
The Hague
Zory/
Rybnik/
Jastrzebie LL
CSS Calarasi LL
Calarasi
- - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
- - London Youth Baseball LL
London
Rivne LL
Rivne
2018 East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Brussels LL
Brussels
- Northwest Czech Republic LL
Prague
Ile-De-France LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
- - Friuli-Venezia Giulia LL
Ronchi dei Legionari
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
- Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
- - - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
- - London LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2019 Austria East LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Brussels LL
Brussels
Croatia North LL
Karlovac
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Ile-De-France LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central LL
Budapest
- Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
- Amsterdam LL
Amsterdam
Kedzierzy Kozle LL
- - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
- - South/East London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School LL
Kyiv
2022[7] East Austria LL
Vienna
- - Croatia North LL
Sisak
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
- - - - Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
- - Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
- - - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
Switzerland East/West LL
Basel
- London LL
London
Odesa/Mykolaiv/Kyiv LL
Odesa/Mykolaiv/Kyiv
2023[8] East Austria LL
Vienna
- - Croatia North LL
Sisak
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
SUD LL
Nice
South-East Germany LL
Munich
- - Veneto LL
Verona
- - Midden-Nederland LL
Utrecht
- - - - Catalunya LL
Barcelona
Switzerland East/West LL
Basel
- London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School LL
Kyiv
2024[9] East Austria LL
Vienna
- - - South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Sud LL
Nice
South-East Germany LL
Munich
- South/Center LL
Beit Shemesh
Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
- Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
- - - Western Cape Baseball LL
Cape Town
Madrid LL
Madrid
Switzerland West/East LL
Zurich
- London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School/Rivne LL
Kyiv/Rivne

LLWS Performance

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2013 South Moravia LL   Brno Round 1 1–2
2014 South Moravia LL   Brno Round 1 0–3
2015 AVRS Secondary School LL   Kampala Round 2 1–2
2016 Emilia LL   Emilia Round 1 0–3
2017 Emilia LL   Emilia Round 1 0–3
2018 Catalunya LL   Barcelona Round 1 0–3
2019 Emilia Romagna LL   Bologna Round 1 0–3
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 crisis [10]
2021 No participant
2022 Emilia Romagna LL   Bologna Round 2 1–2
2023 South Czech Republic LL   Brno Round 1 0–2
2024 South Czech Republic LL   Brno Round 1 0–2

By country

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Table includes results from Europe, EMEA, Transatlantic and Europe and Africa regions through the 2024 Little League World Series. Italics indicates team is no longer either a part of the European region or the African region that participate in the joint regional championship.

Country European/Regional
Championships
Record
in LLWS
PCT
  Saudi Arabia 19 18–39 .316
  West Germany/Germany 16 9–39 .188
  Spain 10 4–25 .138
  Italy 6 2–16 .111
  Russia 5 1–14 .067
  Czech Republic 4 1–9 .100
  Belgium 2 1–5 .167
  Netherlands 2 0–6 .000
  France 1 1–2 .333
  Uganda 1 1–2 .333
  Turkey 1 0–2 .000
  Greece 1 0–3 .000
  Poland 1 0–3 .000
Total 69 38–164 .188

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Regions Realigned for 2013: Australia to Play in Little League Baseball World Series" (Press release). Little League Baseball. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "2001 Little League Baseball". Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  3. ^ "2003 Little League Baseball". Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  4. ^ "LLB Europe-Africa Qualifier". Little League. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  5. ^ "LLB Europe-Africa Region Qualifying Tournament". Little League. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 LLB Europe-Africa Region Qualifying Tournament". Little League. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ^ "LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament". Little League. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  8. ^ "LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament". Little League. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament". Little League. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Little League® Cancels 2020 World Series and Region Tournaments". 30 April 2020.
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