China to host historic WBSC Premier12 2027 Qualifier in Zhongshan

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is delighted to announce that Zhongshan (Guangdong Province), China, has been awarded hosting rights for the first of two WBSC Premier12 2027 Qualifiers as the WBSC's quadrennial tournament features two qualification tournaments for the first time, with the number of participating teams increasing from 12 to 16.

The first qualification tournament will take place in the International Baseball and Softball Centre from 26–29 November, 2026, bringing high-stakes international baseball to a city with deep historical ties to the sport.

Four teams will battle for two berths in the first of two qualification tournaments for the WBSC Premier12 2027. Details regarding the second qualifying tournament - including host city and dates - will be revealed in due course.

Widely recognised as the birthplace of Liang Fuchu, the Father of Chinese Baseball, Zhongshan stands as a meaningful and strategic location for this world-class event. The city’s International Baseball and Softball Centre, a state-of-the-art complex that successfully hosted the 2025 National Games, will welcome elite international competition.

The WBSC’s decision highlights both China’s growing influence in global baseball and Zhongshan’s emergence as a premier destination for hosting top-tier sporting events.

The 2027 edition marks an exciting new chapter for the WBSC Premier12, which will expand from 12 to 16 teams, reinforcing its status as the WBSC’s flagship global baseball tournament.

The qualification format is as follows:

• Top 12 teams in the WBSC Men’s Baseball World Ranking at the end of 2025 will earn direct entry into the Premier12 2027 group stage.
• Teams ranked 13–18, along with two Wild Cards, will enter the Premier12 2027 Qualifiers to determine the remaining four group stage spots.

This expanded structure ensures even greater global representation while heightening competitive intensity on the road to 2027.

The most recent Premier12, held in November 2024, delivered a memorable finale as World No. 2 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 1 Japan to capture the tournament title - an achievement that continues to energise fans across the region as anticipation builds for the next edition.