Baseball World Cups Format
1) Single-Stage World Cups – Two-Year Cycle
- U-12 Baseball World Cup;
- U-15 Baseball World Cup;
- U-18 Baseball World Cup;
- U-23 Baseball World Cup.
2) Two-Stage World Cup – Four-Year Cycle
- Women's Baseball World Cup:
- Women's Baseball World Cup - Group Stage;
- Women's Baseball World Cup - Finals.
2.1) Four-Year Cycle
- Year 1 - Continental Qualifiers;
- Year 2 - World Cup - Group Stage;
- Year 3 - World Cup - Finals;
- Year 4 - Off year.
2.2) World Cup - Group Stage, Participating Teams & Continental Quota
12 participating Teams as follows:
- Americas - 4;
- Asia - 4;
- Europe - 1;
- Oceania - 1;
- Host / Wild Card: 2*.
NOTE: All teams must go through the Continental Qualification tournament/system as established by the Continental Confederation.
2.2.1) Competition Format for Group Stage
- 2 groups of 6 teams;
- Each group to be hosted at a different location;
- 6 competition days in 1 venue needed to complete the round robin and qualification round (5-6 games per team);
*Wild Card designation criteria for Group Stage:
- Criteria: 1 Wild Card spot is secured for each host country. If, however, 1 or more hosts are among the qualified teams, an open request process will be used for Executive Board evaluation and decision.
2.2.2) Qualification Process to Finals
- The top 2 Teams from each group of the Group Stage will advance to the World Cup Finals;
- 2 Wild Card** Teams will also advance to the World Cup Finals.
**Wild Card criteria for Finals is as follows:
- Criterion 1: 1 Wild Card spot secured for the host country;
- Criterion 2: If the World Cup Finals Host country is among the qualified teams, both 3rd place teams from each group of the Group Stage qualify for the World Cup Finals. If this criterion does not settle it, then the next criterion will be used;
- Criterion 3: If the World Cup Finals host country is not among the qualified teams, the top 3rd place team in the Group Stage based on final standings from the previous World Cup edition will obtain the remaining Wild Card spot for the World Cup Finals. If this criterion does not settle it (for example, if none of the 3rd place finishers participated in the last World Cup), then the next criterion will be used;
- Criterion 4: The top 3rd place team in the Group Stage based on the highest position in the WBSC Rankings at the end of the previous calendar year qualify for the World Cup Finals.
2.3) Competition Format for World Cup Finals
6 teams participating:
- The top 2 teams from each group of the Group Stage plus 2 Wild Cards*;
- 1 group of 6 teams in 1 location; and
- 6 competition days in 1 venue needed to complete the round robin and finals (5-6 games per team).