Palmerston North to host WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup Oceania Qualifier

World No. 6 Australia, No. 7 New Zealand and No. 38 American Samoa will take part in the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifier taking place later this month from 25 to 27 April in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with two tickets at stake. 

Colquhoun Park in Palmerston North will once again welcome an international field after it staged the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2020 with Japan claiming the title.

The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, playing six games to determine the playoff seedings. The second- and third-place finishers will face off for a spot in the Final and a berth in the 2027 World Cup. The first-place team in the Opening Round will secure a ticket to the World Cup and advance directly to the Final, where it will await the winner of the first playoff game.

Schedule

25th April

• 11.00 - Opening Ceremony
• Game 1 - 12.00 - American Samoa vs Australia
• Game 2 - 15.00 - American Samoa vs New Zealand
• Game 3 - 18.00 - Australia vs New Zealand

26th April

• Game 4 - 12.00 - Australia vs American Samoa
• Game 5 - 15.00 - New Zealand vs Australia
• Game 6 - 18.00 - New Zealand vs American Samoa

27th April

• Game 7 - SEMIFINAL - 10.00 - 2nd Place vs 3rd Place
• Game 8 - FINAL - 13.00 - 1st Place vs Winner Game 7
• Closing Ceremony

WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2027

The WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2027 will be played in Havlickuv Brod and Ledenice - two Czech cities located 120 kilometres apart - marking the first time this event will be held on European soil. The exact dates of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2027 will be announced at a later stage.

A total of 12 teams will participate in the World Cup with five teams having secured their place so far. No. 2 Venezuela, No. 3 Argentina, No. 4 Canada and No. 8 Mexico became the first qualified teams for the tournament as the top four in the Americas qualifier, joining No. 9 Czechia, automatically qualified as hosts.

The other four continents are yet to confirm their representatives, with two berths available for Oceania, Asia and Europe, and one more for Africa.