Chinese Taipei, Japan and Thailand secure WBSC Baseball5 World Cup berths at Asia Cup in Hong Kong, China

World No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 2 Japan and No. 18 Thailand secured qualification to the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the 3rd Baseball5 Asia Cup concluded on Tuesday at Discovery Park in Hong Kong, China.

Chinese Taipei, winners of the inaugural edition in 2022, were crowned Asian champions following a come-from-behind 2-1 (4-5, 2-1, 5-4) victory over 2024 champions Japan in a closely contested gold medal game, while Thailand secured bronze with a 2-0 (6-5, 5-4) win against Korea to complete the list of qualifiers for the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2026.

Japan and Chinese Taipei have contested every final of the Baseball5 Asia Cup with Chinese Taipei now leading the ledger 2-1. For Thailand, it is the first time they have reached the podium.

The final developed into a finely balanced contest across all three sets. Japan edged the opening set 5-4, capitalising on a decisive scoring stretch in the later innings. Chinese Taipei responded in the second, taking control early and limiting Japan to a single run to level the game.

The deciding set remained tight throughout, with both sides exchanging runs before Chinese Taipei produced a key three-run surge in the third inning to gain the advantage. Japan reduced the deficit late, but Chinese Taipei held firm to secure the title by a single run and complete an unbeaten run through the Super Round and knockout stage.

The bronze medal game followed a similarly tight pattern, with Thailand edging a closely fought opening set 6-5 as both teams traded runs across the innings. Thailand maintained their momentum into the second set, capitalising on key scoring opportunities and defensive pressure to close out a 5-4 victory and secure third place.

The outcome reflected the standings established in the Super Round, where Chinese Taipei (5-0) led the field ahead of Japan (4-1) and Thailand (3-2), with all three teams maintaining consistency across the decisive phase of the competition.

Earlier in the tournament, nine teams competed across three preliminary groups, with Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei each topping their pools to carry momentum into the Super Round. The format rewarded continuity, with results carrying forward and shaping the pathway to the medal games.

Final standings:

1. Chinese Taipei
2. Japan
3. Thailand
4. Korea
5. Hong Kong, China*
6. Vietnam
7. Singapore
8. Saudi Arabia
9. Bangladesh

* As hosts of the previous WBSC Baseball5 World Cup, Hong Kong, China also secured a place in the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from 9-13 December 2026.

WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2026 Qualification Process

World No. 30 Puerto Rico earned the right to participate as the host and became the sixth qualified team.

World No. 3 France, No. 13 Spain and No. 10 Turkiye earned their spots through the Baseball5 European Championship in November 2025.

No. 5 Tunisia and No. 14 South Africa qualified through the Baseball5 African Championship, also played in November 2025.

The remaining participants will qualify according to this continental quota:

1. Africa: 2 teams - TUN, RSA
2. Americas: 4 teams
3. Asia: 3 teams - TPE, JPN, THA
4. Europe: 3 teams - FRA, ESP, TUR
5. Oceania: 1 team
6. World Cup Host: (1 team) PUR
7. Previous World Cup Host (if not qualified): 1 team - HKG
8. WBSC Wild Card: 1 team

No. 1 Cuba are the two-time defending Baseball5 World Champions. They defeated Japan in the World Championship Final to claim the title in 2024 in Hong Kong.