Baseball5 is being embraced in continents, countries and territories such as Africa, Jordan and Gaza Strip, which which traditionally struggle to participate in sport compared to the rest of the world.
Since Baseball5 took the world by storm in 2018, the WBSC's new urban discipline has caught the attention of millions with its core values - inclusivity, teamwork, adaptability, innovation - and simplicity to play that make it such a unique and attractive sport. However, there’s one element that deserves to be outlined over the rest: Now Baseball5 has opened numerous opportunities for individuals and organisations to participate in sport in places where it was maybe unthinkable just a few years ago.
This is the case of Lama al-Masri, a 21-year-old Palestinian girls in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with the dream of representing her country on the international stage.
"Since I was young, I've been passionate about sports, and I love sports. I play all kinds of sports: soccer, Baseball5, and table tennis. I've been the team captain since I was young, and my dream is to reach and compete as part of a women's team from Gaza in international sports competitions," she told Reuters.
Women in Gaza seemingly have some barriers to participate in sport however the baseball & softball street version has provided opportunities for girls to get involved in physical activities and sport competition. In 2018, the WBSC introduced Baseball5 in the Gaza strip, as part of a development program that also included baseball and softball kits. The lack of space for sport in the Gaza Strip and the absence of a proper field meant Baseball5 was a perfect fit in the community.
"God willing, in the future, we will be able to excel in this sport at an international level and Palestinian girls from Gaza can play and practice sports, and we can showcase our skills and abilities. We are capable of playing sports in Gaza and beyond," she finished.
Lama al-Masri is not the
only one to enjoy Baseball5 accessibility and opportunities. The new sport has
has an immediate impact in Africa, especially after its inclusion as a medal
sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Baseball5 has been embraced by the continent due to its accessibility and youth-focused approach. And the results are in. A total of 11 African nations are included in the WBSC Baseball5 World Rankings, representing 24% of the total number of Baseball5 programmes in the world. This is an impressive number for a continent, which faces its own challenges in the development of team sports.
This year’s Youth Baseball5 Qualifier in Africa saw eight teams playing for two spots in the World Cup, drawing the biggest participation ever in an African competition. Hosts Ghana completed a historic run, qualifying for a WBSC World Cup for the first time in history. They will be the become the 80th country/territory to participate in a WBSC World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Baseball5 Azraq Refugee Team project is also providing participating opportunities for young refugees in Jordan. Using Baseball5 to make baseball/softball available to refugees, forcibly displaced and disadvantaged people around the world and having them represented by a Refugee Team who will compete for a medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are some of the key targets for the project.
“Baseball5 is a clear
example of the power of team sport and its unique capability of bringing people
together,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “Team sports not only carry
all the physical and psychological benefit of the sporting activity for those
who practice it, but also, have the capacity to engage whole communities that
often unite behind a team from which they feel represented.”
