Colombia granted wild card to play WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, complete tournament’s 12-team line up
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) awarded No. 24 Colombia a wild card to participate in the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, set to take place in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 11 to 19 November.
The appointment of Colombia, who finished fifth as hosts of the Americas Qualifier in Sincelejo, was made following the withdrawal of South Africa and completes the list of qualified teams for the tournament:
- Americas (4) No. 1 Argentina, No. 4 Canada, No. 5 USA, No. 8 Venezuela
- Asia (2) No. 3 Japan, No. 12 Singapore
- Europe (2) No. 6 Czechia, No. 17 Israel
- Host Nation (1) No. 10 Mexico
- Oceania (2) No. 2 Australia, No. 7 New Zealand
- Wild Card (1) Colombia
The WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Hermosillo will represent Colombia’s first participation in a youth men’s softball world cup, becoming the 23rd nation to feature in the oldest youth men’s softball international competition.
Colombia hosted the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup Americas Qualifier in Sincelejo, earlier this month. The host team were swept in the Opening Round, and then defeated No. 28 Peru, 9-7, to earn the fifth place behind USA, Venezuela, Canada and Argentina, who grabbed their tickets to the World Cup.
Japan are the defending world champions, after winning the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2020 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The Japanese beat Australia in the final, 9-2 in five innings, to complete their undefeated run in the tournament.
The groups and schedule for the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2023 will be announced in the coming weeks.