26/11/2022 - 04/12/2022

#MensSoftballWC  

Hosted by:   NZL

XVII Men's Softball World Cup 2022 - Official Payoff

Multiple teams in medal contention in much-awaited XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup

Multiple teams in medal contention in much-awaited XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup
24/11/2022
The tournament will be played for the first time under the Super Round format, and the number of teams has been reduced from 16 to 12 to increase the parity and level of play of the competition.

The XVII Men’s Softball World Cup, set to begin on Saturday at Rosedale Park in Auckland, New Zealand, promises to be one of the most contested world cups in recent history, with at least half of the teams being contenders to lift the champions trophy on 4 December. 

The XVII Men’s Softball World Cup will showcase some changes in the competition format. The tournament will be played for the first time under the Super Round format, and the number of teams has been reduced from 16 to 12 to increase the parity and level of play of the competition. 

A reduced field of teams and the new competition format will guarantee for softball fans an intense competition in both groups for the top-three spots in the standings that guarantee a place in the Super Round.

Both groups include four playoff teams from the last edition played in Prague, meaning at least two of them will not make the six-team Super Round this year.

In Group A, Argentina, Czech Republic, New Zealand and USA made the playoffs the last time the event was played, and will open the World Cup aiming to win a medal. If we add the dangerous Cuba and Philippines to the mix, we can say that this group will showcase a fierce battle for the Super Round spots with an uncertain ending.

Group B includes the other four teams that played the 2019 playoffs. Japan, Canada, Venezuela and Australia look as favourites to battle for the top-three spots and also be contenders to win a medal. However, Denmark and South Africa will try to surprise them and make the playoffs.  

The exciting 30-game Opening Round will finish on 30 November, with the top three finishers from each group advancing to the Super Round, while the other six teams will participate in the Placement Round. The teams will carry over their head-to-to head records against each other from the Opening Round.

The top two teams from the Super Round, to be played from 1-3 December, will compete for the Men’s Softball World Champions title, while the number three and four placed teams will play for the bronze medal. The World Championship Final is scheduled on 4 December at 16:00, preceded by the Bronze Medal Game at 13:00.