Groups, schedule announced for WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals in Prince Albert as tickets go on sale
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has announced the groups and schedule for the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals, set to take place at Prime Ministers' Ballpark in Prince Albert, Canada, from 8 to 13 July. Tournament passes are now available for CA$136 (US$96) at Sasktix.ca.
Japan and the Dominican Republic will open the tournament on Tuesday, 8 July, at 11:30, followed by Argentina vs. Venezuela at 14:30. Game 3 will feature a showdown between 2022 bronze medallists USA and defending champions Australia, while arch-rivals New Zealand and Canada will close out the opening day at 20:30. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for 19:30.
A total of 57 games were played last year in the Group Stage to determine the eight teams that will compete in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025. The participating teams are No. 1 Argentina, No. 2 Australia, No. 3 Japan, No. 4 Canada, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 USA, No. 8 New Zealand, and No. 11 Dominican Republic.
The teams have been split into two groups for the opening phase of the tournament:
- Group A: Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, Venezuela
- Group B: Australia, Dominican Republic, Japan, USA
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, scheduled for 11 and 12 July. The World Championship Final, featuring the top two teams from the Super Round standings, will take place on 13 July at 14:00. July 14 has been designated as a rain day.
The WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 are expected to be one of the most competitive editions in tournament history. Seven of the eight teams competing in Prince Albert have previously won a medal in the event - only the Dominican Republic has yet to reach the podium. Together, these nations account for 48 of the 51 medals awarded in past editions. In addition, fans in Prince Albert will have the chance to see all five World Champions in action: New Zealand (7 titles), USA (5), Canada (4), Australia (2), and Argentina (1).
With a 59-year history, the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup remains the most prestigious tournament in men's softball. The inaugural edition was held in 1966 in Mexico City, where 11 national teams competed for the first-ever world championship. Since then, 44 different nations have participated in this premier event.