Japan to host WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Naha City from September 5 to 14

Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, WBSC will host the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup presented by RAXUS from September 5 to 14, 2025.

The Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Enterprise will co-host the event with the support of the High School Baseball Federation on an island that hosts the Spring Training Camps of nine NPB franchises annually.

The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 will be part of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Okinawa aims to promote world peace through sports and international exchange initiatives.

One of the key venues ready to host the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 is the Okinawa Cellular Stadium NAHA (15,000 seats).

Nine National Teams have already qualified for the XXXIII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.

In July, the reigning European Champions, World No. 13 Italy, and the runner-up, No. 17 Germany, qualified through the European Championship.

No. 3 USA, No. 10 Panama, No. 12 Puerto Rico, and No. 8 Cuba qualified through the WBSC Americas Qualifier in August.

In September, the reigning Asian Champions, No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 1 Japan and No. 6 Korea, qualified through the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship.

One National Team from Africa, one from Oceania and a Wild Card will complete the set of 12 participants.

Japan are the defending U-18 World Champion. Cuba (11 times), USA (10), Korea (5), Chinese Taipei (3), Canada (1) are the other previous winners.