WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 10 days to go - A look at the Historical Records
The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS will open in 10 days in the Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It will be the 32nd edition of the oldest Youth Baseball World Cup.
USA hosted the inaugural WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, then known as the Junior World Championship, in 1981 in Newark, New Jersey.
Japan will host the event for the second time, after the 27th edition in 2015 in Osaka. Canada has hosted the event the most times (13), followed by USA (six, including four of the first five editions), Taiwan four, Cuba three, Korea two, Australia and Mexico one.
Cuba (11) has the most titles, followed by USA (10), Korea (5), Chinese Taipei (3), Canada and Japan, the defending champions, (1).
Cuba, Italy, South Africa, China and Germany didn't participate in the 2023 edition. The other seven teams are returning.
GROUP A
Cuba
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 24
- Highest Finish: World Champion (11 times, last in 2004)
- 2023 Finish: didn't qualify
- World Ranking: 12
Cuba earned their spot as the fourth-place finishers of the WBSC Americas Qualifier in August 2024. After eliminating Venezuela in the quarterfinals, they lost to Panama in the semifinals and to Puerto Rico in the bronze medal game. Abeicy Pantoya, a Serie Nacional (National League) winner as a player and manager, will manage the team.
Italy
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 18
- Highest Finish: 6th place (2004)
- 2023 Finish: didn't qualify
- World Ranking: 14
Italy are the defending U-18 European Champions. They won the title in Regensburg, Germany, defeating the hosts in the championship game. Former Italian Baseball League superstar Guglielmo Trinci led Italy to the European title and will manage the team in Okinawa. An announcement for the 20-player roster is expected soon.
Japan
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 9
- Highest Finish: World Champion (2023)
- 2023 Finish: World Champion
- World Ranking: 1
Japan qualified as the runner-up of the 2024 U-18 Baseball Asian Championship. Summer Koshien winner Masayoshi Ogura will manage the team. It will be his second stint as U-18 Samurai Japan manager. Japan announced their 20-player roster on Saturday, August 23.
Korea
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 21
- Highest Finish: World Champion (5 times, last in 2008)
- 2023 Finish: 3rd place
- World Ranking: 4
Korea defeated the Philippines in the bronze-medal game of the 2024 U-18 Asian Championship to earn their right to compete in the XXXII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Puerto Rico
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 1
- Highest Finish: 5th place (2023)
- 2023 Finish: 5th place
- World Ranking: 7
Puerto Rico defeated Cuba to win the bronze medal game at the WBSC Americas 2024 Qualifier. Manager Eddie Gonzalez announced the 20-player roster.
South Africa
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 8
- Highest Finish: 9th place (1997)
- 2023 Finish: didn't qualify
- World Ranking: 26
South Africa swept Zimbabwe in the best-of-five WBSC Africa Qualifier in January.
GROUP B
Australia
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 28
- Highest Finish: 2nd place (2010)
- 2023 Finish: 10th place
- World Ranking: 10
Australia swept New Zealand in the WBSC Oceania qualifier in December 2024. Manager Jason Pospishil announced his 20-player roster.
China
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 3
- Highest Finish: 8th place (2000)
- 2023 Finish: didn't qualify
- World Ranking: 19
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) awarded a Wild Card to China in January 2025.
Germany
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 1
- Highest Finish: 10th place (2004)
- 2023 Finish: didn't qualify
- World Ranking: 18
Germany is the runner-up of the 2024 U-18 European Championship. German Baseball Hall of Famer Georg Bull is the manager. He led Germany to the U-15 European title earlier this year.
Panama
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 15
- Highest Finish: 4th place (1984 and 1999)
- 2023 Finish: 7th place
- World Ranking: 9
Panama lost the final against USA at the WBSC Americas 2024 Qualifier after defeating Nicaragua in the quarterfinals and Cuba in the semifinals. Former MLB pitcher Carlos Maldonado will be the manager.
Chinese Taipei
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 29
- Highest Finish: World Champion (3 times, last in 2019)
- 2023 Finish: 2nd place (second consecutive)
- World Ranking: 2
Chinese Taipei beat Japan in the final to win the 2024 U-18 Baseball Asian Championship. Taichung City manager Hung-Yuan Liao earned the right to assemble the team by winning the 19th National High School Baseball Championship. He is at work with an expanded roster of 36 and will announce the final 20-player roster soon.
USA
- U-18 BWC Appearances: 30
- Highest Finish: World Champion (10 times, last in 2022)
- 2023 Finish: 4th place
- World Ranking: 3
USA defeated Panama in the final to win the WBSC Americas Qualifier. Manager Rick Eckstein opened the second and final stage of the selection process with an expanded roster of 42 players on August 24.
