Czechia to host WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2027 in Havlickuv Brod and Ledenice
The Czech Softball Association will host a World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) tournament for the third time with the announcement that the European country has been awarded the hosting rights of the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2027. The 12-team tournament will take place in Havlickuv Brod and Ledenice - two cities located 120 kilometres apart - marking the first time this event will be held on European soil.
Czechia hosted the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup in 2019 and is set to organise one of the three groups of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in 2026. The exact dates of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2027 will be announced at a later stage.
Havlickuv Brod, a historic town located in the Vysocina Region of the Czech Republic, lies about 118 kilometres south east from the country’s capital Prague. With a population of approximately 23,000, the city co-hosted the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2019 alongside Prague and will also host the Men's Softball European Championship in 2025. In 2027, it will welcome the softball world once again at Hippos Arena.
Ledenice, home to nearly 3,000 residents, is located in the South Bohemian Region, approximately 157 kilometres south of Prague and one hour and 40 minutes drive south east of Havlickuv Brod. The Shark’s Bay softball field, which opened in 2009 and co-hosted the Men's Softball European Championship in 2021, will serve as the venue for the World Cup.
The 2027 tournament will mark the 15th edition of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, which was first played in 1981. Czechia, bronze medallists in 2020, will become the seventh nation to host the event - joining Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and USA - while Europe will become the fourth continent to stage the tournament.
Japan are the defending world champions, having claimed their fourth title in Hermosillo in 2023 with a thrilling 7-4 victory over hosts Mexico in the World Championship Final. Canada secured the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over USA.