Baseball, softball now being played in 141 countries and territories with Saudi Arabia and Bhutan set to join WBSC

Baseball and softball’s global footprint continues to evolve, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Executive Board having approved the memberships of the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association and the Saudi Arabia Baseball & Softball Federation at the board’s most recent virtual meeting.

The two memberships of the national governing bodies, which will need to be ratified at the next WBSC Congress in 2022, will raise the countries and territories in which WBSC has a member to 141.

The growth of international baseball and softball, as highlighted by the new Saudi Arabia and Bhutan memberships, aligns with WBSC's recently announced strategic-plan to make baseball and softball core Olympic sports.

National Federations must meet certain criteria and activity standardsto become recognised by the WBSC.

The addition of the Saudi Arabia and Bhutan federations would bring the total WBSC membership to 213, with 77 National Baseball Federations; 68 National Softball Federations; 55 combined Baseball and Softball National Federations; and 13 Associate Members, which include professional and youth leagues around the world.