The World Games Men's Softball preview: World’s best collide in Chengdu

After an incredible WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 last month that saw Venezuela claim the world title for the first time in history, the international men’s softball spotlight now turns to Chengdu, China, where eight of the world’s top teams begin The World Games competition on Wednesday (the women's softball competition takes place from 13-17 August).

The teams are split into two groups of four to open the tournament:

Group A: No. 1 Japan, No. 2 Venezuela, No. 3 Argentina and No. 9 Czechia.

Group B: No. 4 Australia, No. 6 Canada, No. 7 USA and No. 11 Singapore.

Let's take a look at each group.

Group A

The top three teams in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Rankings - after the most recent update - are all in Group A, with only two spots available for the semifinals. Japan, Venezuela and Argentina are joined by Czechia.

Venezuela are the reigning world champions after a spectacular run in Prince Albert in July, capped by a 3-0 victory over New Zealand in the World Championship Final. They lean heavily on flamethrower Maiker Pimentel, the tournament MVP. Riding the momentum of their best-ever result on the global stage, Venezuela are among the favourites to contend for gold on Sunday.

Japan, the world’s top-ranked nation, finished fourth in the World Cup and are hungry to convert their pedigree into a title at a global event. They reached the final day of the Super Round with a 2-0 record but dropped their last two games, falling short of the podium. Improvement in their pitching - Japan posted a 5.03 team ERA in Prince Albert - will be critical if they want to go all the way in Chengdu.

Argentina, former world champions, had a disappointing sixth-place finish in the World Cup with a 2-3 record, a result that belied their true talent. They brought the best pitching staff to the tournament (3.00 ERA) and were the second-best hitting team with a .291 batting average. If they can string together timely hitting and play to their statistical strengths, they could be back in medal contention.

Czechia are the only European nation in the field and one of two teams that did not qualify for this year’s World Cup Finals. In 2024, they placed fourth in Group A of the World Cup - behind the Dominican Republic, Australia and Mexico - and missed out on the Finals. Still, as European champions with solid pitching and a dangerous lineup, they have the tools to disrupt Group A and crack the final four.

Group B

Group B features multiple world champions alongside the tournament’s lowest-ranked entrant: North American superpowers USA and Canada, with five and four world titles each; two-time champions Australia and Singapore 

USA reaffirmed their resurgence in Prince Albert by claiming bronze, defeating Japan in the third-place game and adding the programme’s 11th overall World Cup medal. Their last appearance in a global final was 37 years ago. Can they break that drought in Chengdu, led from the circle by Marco Diaz?

Canada also underperformed on home soil, finishing fifth in the World Cup and ending a streak of four consecutive medals. Their lineup was the most potent offensively, but inconsistent pitching held them back. If their staff regains form under Chengdu’s hot weather, Canada will be in the mix for a podium spot.

Australia, the 2022 world champions, failed to reach the Super Round in Prince Albert and came away empty-handed in their title defence. Their challenge is compounded by the absence of ace Jack Besgrove, who did not make the trip to China. Still, a strong start - beginning with Wednesday’s opener against Singapore - would position them well to fight for a semifinal berth.

Singapore is the only team outside the top 10 in the world rankings and entered Chengdu via a wild card. The Asian squad has shown it can compete toe to toe with elite opposition. Can they take the next step, upset a heavyweight, and put themselves into genuine medal contention at a world-class event?