WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group A Playoffs Schedule Released

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has announced the schedule for Sunday’s Playoffs of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group A. Following the completion of the Opening Round, four teams will compete for the two available spots in next year’s Finals in Prince Albert, Canada.

The top four teams in the Group A standings have progressed to Sunday’s playoffs, where the top two sides in the standings will face off for a chance to secure a spot in the Finals. The losing team from the first playoff match will then play against the winner of the game between the third and fourth-ranked teams to determine the second spot in the Finals.

Venezuela has clinched the No. 1 spot in the standings with a perfect 5-0 record, followed by the Dominican Republic with a 3-2 record. These two teams will play each other at 17:00 at Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium, with the winner earning a spot in next year’s Finals.

Australia, Mexico, and Czechia finished the Opening Round with identical 2-3 records. They were ranked according to Team’s Quality Balance, a new tie-break system. Australia and Mexico secured the third and fourth places, respectively, with Czechia finishing in fifth place.

Australia and Mexico will compete in an elimination game at 17:00 at Fernando Ortiz Stadium. The winner will then face the loser between Venezuela and Dominican Republic for the second spot in the Finals, with that game scheduled for 21:00 at Fernando Ortiz Stadium.

Czechia, which finished in fifth place during the Opening Round, will play against the Philippines for the fifth-place playoff at 20:00 at Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium.

The XVIII Men’s Softball World Cup is being played under a two-stage format, with Group A being played in Hermosillo, Group B in Prince Albert, Canada from 10-14 July, and Group C in Oklahoma City from 17-21 September.
The top two teams in each group, along with two wild cards, will progress to the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals next year, set to take place between 8-13 July 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada.