24/03/2026 2 Minute Read

Former MLB outfielder Marvin Benard to manage Spain at WBSC Premier12 Qualifier

Born in 1971, Benard played nine MLB seasons with the San Francisco Giants. After serving as a minor league hitting coach, he managed Nicaragua at the World Baseball Classic 2017 qualifying tournament and Rivas Gigantes in the Nicaraguan pro league.

Categories: Baseball , Europe , Premier12

12/03/2026 2 Minute Read

Barcelona confirmed as host of second WBSC Premier12 Qualifier; Groups announced

Zhongshan, China will host the other group. The participating teams and WBSC Premier12 Qualifiers groups have also been confirmed with world No. 24 Spain being included as the 20th and final participant.

Categories: Americas , Asia , Baseball , Europe , Premier12

06/03/2026 2 Minute Read

World Baseball Classic starts Road to LA28; First Olympic Qualifier across all sports

The World Baseball Classic is the first qualifier across all Olympic sports included in the LA28 programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, offering two tickets to the best teams from the Americas, in addition to USA who have already qualified as hosts.

14/01/2026 2 Minute Read

Premier12 2027: Teams announced for Opening Round and Qualifiers

The fourth edition of the WBSC's flagship event will inaugurate a new format with two qualification tournaments taking place in 2026 ahead of a 16-team Opening Round in 2027.

30/12/2025 2 Minute Read

China to host historic WBSC Premier12 2027 Qualifier in Zhongshan

Four teams will compete for two spots in the WBSC Premier12 2027 group stage in the first qualifier. The 2027 edition of the WBSC Premier12 will feature two qualification tournaments for the first time as the number of participating teams increases from 12 to 16.

10/12/2025 1 Minute Read

NPB Secretary General Katsuhiko Nakamura visits WBSC Headquarters to discuss global growth of Baseball

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, pictured here with Nippon Professional Baseball Secretary General Katsuhiko Nakamura, discussed the growing popularity of baseball in Japan and around the world.

Categories: Asia , Baseball , NPB , Premier12 , WBSC

19/09/2025 1 Minute Read

Race for Premier12 2027 qualification intensifies with latest WBSC Men’s Baseball World Ranking update

The top 12 programmes in the WBSC Men's Baseball World Ranking at the end of 2025 will earn a direct ticket to the Premier12 2027, while teams ranked 13th to 18th, along with two Wild Cards, will contest the Premier12 Qualifiers for the final four spots.

27/11/2024 2 Minute Read

WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking update: Chinese Taipei clear second; Venezuela top three for first time after Premier12

A total of 84 nations are featured in the WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking with the addition of newcomers No. 57 Sint Maarten and No. 80 Cambodia and the return of No. 70 Indonesia and No. 77 Malaysia.

26/11/2024 2 Minute Read

President Fraccari hails success of WBSC Premier12 as launchpad for further growth of global baseball

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari reflects on a hugely successful WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS, which came to a close in the Tokyo Dome on Sunday with a stunning victory by Chinese Taipei over Japan in the final.

24/10/2024 1 Minute Read

Premier12 to expand to 16 teams in 2027 highlighting success of WBSC’s flagship event

The WBSC’s flagship tournament will have a 16-team group stage as well as two qualification events with more teams given the opportunity to compete.