Baseball5 teams announced for Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games Organising Committee are pleased to announce the eight teams, which will participate in the Baseball5 tournament at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games later this year in Taranto, Italy.

World No. 12 Spain, No. 4 France, No. 49 Greece, No. 14 Italy, Kosovo, No. 62 Syria, No. 6 Tunisia and No. 9 Türkiye are confirmed to compete in what will be a demonstration tournament from 29 July to 1 August, 2026 and will be hosted at Villa Peripato in central Taranto.

The eight teams have been split into two groups of four, where they will play a round robin before entering the Play-Offs. The winners of each group will go directly to the semifinals while the second and third-placed teams will play two quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals will enter the semifinals, the losers will then play-off with the two fourth-placed teams to determine the positions 5-8.

Group A: Spain, Italy, Kosovo, Tunisia
Group B: France, Greece, Syria, Turkyie

The Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games marks a significant step in the continued development of Baseball5 across the Mediterranean region as well as in Europe and is a further showcase of the discipline’s increasing popularity for multi-sport events.

The addition of Baseball5 to the Taranto 2026 sports programme aligns with the broader vision of the Mediterranean Games to promote unity, youth engagement, and innovation in sport. As a fast-paced, mixed-gender discipline requiring minimal infrastructure, Baseball5 is uniquely positioned to expand participation and accessibility, particularly in emerging markets.

The WBSC will take the lead in delivering the competition, including technical operations, event setup, and overall coordination, working closely with the Italian Baseball Softball Federation, the local baseball community, and the Organising Committee.

The event will also serve as a platform for broader development initiatives, strengthening collaboration among National Federations and increasing Baseball5's footprint in the region.