Tepic prepares to welcome historic second edition of the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup

Tepic, the capital of Mexico’s western state of Nayarit, will host a World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) tournament - the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 - for the second year running, underscoring its growing role on the international sporting stage. The city, which staged Group A of last year’s WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS and unveiled the new Coloso del Pacífico Stadium for the event, is preparing to welcome 16 teams for the historic tournament, taking place with just one one year to go to the Youth Olympic Games.

Tepic was founded in 1531 by Nuño de Guzmán and was originally named Villa del Espíritu Santo de la Mayor España. Today, Tepic is the capital of the state of Nayarit and has a population of nearly half a million people. Set in a valley at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental and not far from Mexico’s Pacific coast, the city serves as a natural crossroads for the region, combining its colonial past with the vibrant traditions of the Huichol and Cora peoples.

A city of culture and heritage
Tepic blends its colonial past with the living traditions of the Huichol and Cora peoples. Markets, festivals and handicrafts keep indigenous culture at the heart of daily life, while churches and historic buildings remind visitors of the city’s Spanish roots. Public spaces such as Parque La Loma - the venue for the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025, which will take place from 24 to 27 September- and Plaza Bicentenario are hubs of community activity, hosting everything from family outings to concerts and civic events.

Growth and modern identity
As the capital of Nayarit, Tepic is a centre for services, agriculture and education. Sugarcane and citrus production still shape its economy, but the city is also home to the Autonomous University of Nayarit, which fosters a youthful, educated population. With its valley setting at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental and a population projected to surpass 600,000, Tepic is modernising rapidly while preserving the cultural richness that makes it distinct from Mexico’s coastal tourist destinations.

A historic second WBSC event
Baseball5 has been groundbreaking since the beginning of its existence as a discipline governed by the WBSC. The second edition of the Youth Baseball5 World Cup will unite 16 teams under a new and exciting competition format with the World Championship title at stake. Just as importantly is that the tournament will take place 13 months before Baseball5 makes its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal next year.

For the WBSC, bringing this new event to Tepic reflects continuity with the success of the Premier12, the federation’s flagship competition. When the city hosted Group A of the 2024 edition, it welcomed some of the world’s top-ranked baseball nations and inaugurated the Coloso del Pacífico, a modern stadium that has since become a point of pride. That tournament proved Tepic had the organisation, facilities and passion to deliver on the world stage. Now, by hosting Baseball5, the city demonstrates its versatility: from elite baseball to a fast-paced urban game designed for parks and plazas, Tepic shows its ability to embrace both tradition and innovation in sport.

This tournament will also serve as the perfect prelude to the arrival of the Winter League in the city, closing a virtuous circle that began when Tepic was confirmed as a co-host of Group A of the Premier12 last year, which led to the construction of the Coloso del Pacífico.

An enthusiastic crowd ready to embrace Baseball5
Tepic proved its passion for baseball with packed stands during the Premier12, fuelling optimism that the city will once again respond with great support for an already successful programme and for this fast, fun and competitive urban discipline.

What makes this World Cup distinctive is where the action will unfold - in Parque La Loma, the city’s largest park, which is a hub for families and youth. Bringing Baseball5 to this location ensures that the World Cup becomes a citywide celebration, rooted in daily life and accessible to all.

Photo source: Visit Nayarit