WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari: “We continue to Innovate, Adapt and Inspire”

In his opening address at the 6th World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Congress, President Riccardo Fraccari reflected on the WBSC’s remarkable evolution in recent years, highlighting innovation, expansion, and unity as defining elements of its global mission.

“The WBSC is on an important trajectory as we continue to innovate, adapt and inspire in our mission to grow baseball and softball globally,” Fraccari said. “Since our last in-person Congress in 2022, our world — and our sport — have continued to evolve. We've faced challenges, yes — but we've also achieved so much.”

President Fraccari opened his remarks by recalling his travels across the five Olympic continents over the past three years, witnessing first-hand the growth and enthusiasm for baseball and softball. He echoed the words of IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach, who, upon receiving the Collar of Honour, said: “We have been an amazing success story.”

Fraccari added, “All of you can be very, very proud.”

The WBSC’s expansion since the world’s return to the sports field in 2022 has been marked by innovation and inclusion. A new competition format for Softball World Cups and Women’s Baseball World Cup plus new tournaments such as Baseball Champions League, U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup, Baseball5 World Cup, Virtual Cup, and Blind Baseball International Cup were some of the key highlights since the last Congress in 2022, each underscoring the Confederation’s commitment to accessibility and creativity.

Fraccari described that while Baseball and Softball continue to go from strength to strength it is the new disciplines such as Baseball5 which is helping the sport reach new territories and levels with the announcement on Friday of Baseball5’s inclusion in the Mediterranean Games a perfect example while the Baseball5 World Cup particularly having “surpassed our highest expectations”.

He also noted the impressive performance of eBaseball PowerPros and the Virtual Cup thanks to WBSC partners Konami and Newdin emphasizing that eSports remain a vital tool for engaging youth, which “continues to be a WBSC priority.”

President Fraccari reflected on the announcement in 2023 that baseball and softball will return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 — “one of our proudest achievements,” Fraccari noted.

“This was the result of years of collaboration and effort. We are incredibly excited about baseball and softball taking place in two great venues – Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and OKC Softball Park in Oklahoma City.”

Fraccari confirmed the WBSC’s intent to continue pursuing the inclusion of Baseball, Softball, and Baseball5 in future Olympic programmes, demonstrating “adaptability to the diverse needs of Olympic organisers and audiences.”

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games the next target, a dedicated Working Group has been established, with Fraccari, noting his participation at the official launch of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2027 in Brisbane, praising the “strong willingness to support our sport” in Australia

With the third edition of the WBSC’s flagship event – the Premier12 – having finished at the end of last year with great style, Fraccari said he is already looking forward to the next editionscheduled for 2027, with an increase to 16 teams, including eight teams in the qualifying process in 2026.

“The game itself continues to evolve, with skill levels and competitiveness among national teams reaching new heights,” Fraccari said about the Premier12. “The players’ passion for representing their countries was evident throughout the tournament.”

President Fraccari also reflected on the WBSC’s growth with Tunisia (WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2022), American Samoa (WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup 2025) and Syria (WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025) all making their first appearances in a WBSC World Cup to take the total of competing member federations at the World Cup level to 81 while he also noted that 111 countries are now represented across WBSC’s five world rankings — a record milestone.

“All of these firsts demonstrate how global our sport has become,” Fraccari said.

Venezuela also captured its first Men’s Softball World Cup title in Canada earlier this year, while Mexico earned its first-ever medal in any Women’s Softball World Cup event — at the U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Oklahoma City, the same venue that will host LA28 softball.

Fraccari also highlighted the Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico, where the Azraq Refugee Team, representing Syria, captured global attention.

“The Azraq Refugee Team inspired everyone watching — a true reminder of the unity and hope sport can create,” he said.

The initiative, part of the WBSC Legacy Club’s Refugee Project, includes Baseball5 programmes in refugee camps in Kenya and Jordan, providing opportunities for displaced youth to participate in sport and improve their well-being.

The WBSC’s Strategic Plan 2022–2028 continues to guide this progress, ensuring that “growth, integrity, and sustainability” remain central to the WBSC’s governance — in alignment with the IOC’s Agenda 2020+5.

President Fraccari closed by expressing his gratitude to WBSC’s key partners — Synergy, Mizuno, SSK, Dentsu, Konami, and Newdin — for their enduring support and also paying tribute to the athletes.

“We have our athlete representatives here in attendance, but I want to thank them all. They are the ones who drive us to grow our game every day, and they inspire millions of fans around the world with their great performances on the field.”