2026 Baseball5 World Cup

The 2026 Baseball5 World Cup will be the first to feature 16 teams, after the WBSC Executive Board approved in 2024 the expansion of the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.^[1] The decision responded to the sustained growth of the discipline globally and the need to accommodate more national federations in the main event.^[2]

Unlike previous editions, no specific qualifier was held for the Americas region. The WBSC assigned the four American berths by combining the Baseball5 world ranking, the competitive activity of each federation, and the development potential of the discipline in each country.^[1] Thus, Cuba (No. 1), Mexico (No. 5), Argentina (No. 34), and the United States (No. 49) earned their spots. For Argentina and the United States, it will be their first participation in a Baseball5 World Cup.^[3]

The two WBSC invitations went to Kenya (No. 10) and South Korea (No. 11).^[1] Kenya finished third at the African Championship and South Korea placed fourth at the Asian qualifier, so both missed direct qualification. An additional invitation was assigned after no team from Oceania confirmed its participation, raising the number of wild cards to two.^[2]

Previously, Tunisia and South Africa qualified through the African Championship; Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Thailand secured their places via the Asian qualifier; and France, Spain, and Türkiye advanced from the European Championship.^[1] Puerto Rico earned its place automatically as the host country, while Hong Kong, China qualified as the previous World Cup host.^[2]

The most notable absence is Lithuania, fourth at the European Championship and a regular participant in world and continental events.^[2] Venezuela will also be absent, having finished fourth in two consecutive editions (2022 and 2024) but did not receive one of the American berths.^[3]

Year in italic indicates host. Year in bold indicates champion.