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WBSC Baseball World Cup Facts

  • The 12 team event has been held every two years since 2000 with one exception and involves the 18 and Under National teams of member countries of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF);
  • There have been 25 competitions dating back to 1981. Besides Canada, hosts have included the USA, Mexico, Australia, Korea, Cuba and Chinese-Taipei. The United States have won last two competitions;
  • Approximately 50 games are played. The twelve National teams will represent the baseball playing continents of the World. The 2010 World Juniors held here featured   USA, Cuba, Venezuela, Panama, Australia, Italy, Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, Korea, Taiwan and of course Canada;
  • A key difference between 2010 and 2017 will be the presence of Japan;
  • To become eligible, countries usually take part in regional qualifying events in the year prior to the event;
  • The event’s hockey counterpart is the World Junior Hockey Championship. The soccer counterpart, the FIFA Under 20;
  • Event began in 1981, and took place every year until 1997 when the IBAF switched to a two-year format between Championships;
  • Several Major League stars have played in this event including Ryan Dempster (Red Sox), Larry Walker (retired), Brett Lawrie (Jays), Russell Martin (Pirates) from Canada; Joe Mauer (Twins), John Smoltz (retired), Greg Zaun (retired), Andrew McCutcheon (Pirates), JJ Hardy, (Orioles), Justin Upton, (Braves), Michael Cuddyer, (Rockies), and Paul Konerko (White Sox) from the United States, and Shin-Soo Choo (Rangers) for Korea, Yasiel Puig, (Dodgers) for Cuba among others;
  • The event’s hockey counterpart is the IIHF 20U World Junior Hockey Championships and soccer counterpart is the FIFA U20 Soccer Championships.
  • Find information at Baseball Canada  www.baseball.ca, USA Baseball www.usabaseball.com, the International Baseball Federation www.ibaf.org, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation www.wbsc.co.

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