Road to LA28 set as Olympic Baseball and Softball Qualification System confirmed

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced the qualification process for the six-team baseball and softball tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28), as approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

WBSC National Teams will have the opportunity to qualify for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad through eight international tournaments - three for baseball and five for softball.

“The qualification system approved for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games reflects our commitment to excellence, universality, and a global, world-class tournament,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “By combining elite global events with clear continental pathways, we are ensuring that the very best baseball and softball teams from across all regions have a clear opportunity to qualify for LA28.

“This Road to LA28 will showcase the global strength, diversity, and popularity of international baseball/softball, and we look forward to working closely with our National Federations, our stakeholders, National Olympic Committees and the IOC to deliver outstanding Olympic tournaments.”

As the host nation, USA is guaranteed one quota place in the men’s baseball and women’s softball tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Road to LA28 – Baseball

World Baseball Classic, March 2026 – 2 teams (2 x Americas)

The first opportunity to qualify for the LA28 Olympic baseball tournament will be the World Baseball Classic, which will take place from 5-17 March, 2026 with the two highest placed (not yet qualified) teams from the Americas in the final standing of the World Baseball Classic 2026 advancing to LA28.

WBSC Premier12, November 2027 – 2 teams (1 x Asia, 1 x Europe/Oceania)

This top-tier, elite global battle - expanded from 12 to 16 teams for the first time in 2027 - will qualify the highest placed team from Asia and the highest placed team from Europe or Oceania.

Final Qualification Event, no later than March 2028 – 1 team

The final Olympic Baseball qualifier will be a six-team world tournament for the last remaining place at LA28. Participants will include:

• The two highest placed (but not yet qualified) teams from the latest edition of the Asia Championship
• The two highest placed (but not yet qualified) teams from the latest edition of the European Championship
• The highest place (but not yet qualified) team from the latest edition of the Africa Championship
• The highest placed (but not yet qualified) team from the latest edition of the Oceania Championship

Men’s Baseball Team Composition

National Team roster sizes for Olympic baseball will be 24 athletes, and the athletes must be at least 18 years old (in the year in which the competition takes place) to participate in any of the three qualification events as well as the LA28 Olympic Games tournament.

Road to LA28 – Softball

Women's Softball World Cup Finals, April 2027 – 1 team

The first opportunity to qualify for the LA28 Olympic softball tournament will be the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2027 where the highest placed team (not yet qualified) will book a ticket to LA28.

Three continental qualification events, 2027 – 3 teams

The three six-team continental qualification tournaments – Asia (4)/Oceania(2), Europe (5)/Africa(1) and the Americas(6) – will qualify one team each for LA28. The continental quotas (in brackets) include the host country.

Final Qualification Event – no later than March 2028 – 1 team

The runner up and third placed teams in the Asia/Oceania, Europe/Africa and the Americas continental qualification tournaments will take part in the Final Qualification Event where the winner will claim the last spot in the softball tournament at LA28.

Women’s Softball Team Composition

National Team roster sizes for Olympic Softball will be 15 athletes, and the athletes must be at least 16 years old (in the year in which the competition takes place) to participate in any of the five qualification events as well as the LA28 Olympic Games tournament.

The WBSC will confirm the dates, hosts and respective broadcast rights agreements of the Qualifiers at a future date.

Click here for the Full Olympic Qualification System