Dominican Republic to host the U-18 Baseball World Cup Qualifier in 2026
Youth baseball in the Americas has a historic date on Dominican soil. The president of the Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOM), Juan Núñez, together with the Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, officially confirmed that the country will host the U-18 Baseball World Cup Qualifier. The tournament will feature the participation of 12 national teams and will take place from October 22 to 29, 2026.
The designated venue for this international event is the IPL Academy facilities, located in the municipality of Guerra. All stages of the championship will take place in this complex, from the opening round and the Super Round, to the decisive medal matches.
Groups and competition calendar
The group configuration places the Dominican Republic in Group A, sharing the stage with the United States, Brazil, and Curaçao. Meanwhile, Group B is composed of Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, and Nicaragua; while Group C includes Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, and Canada.
- Dominican debut: The national team will begin its journey on Thursday, October 22, against Curaçao at 3:00 p.m.
- Second matchday: They will face Brazil on Friday, October 23.
- Round closing: The duel against the United States is scheduled for Saturday, October 24. Both matches will be held at 3:00 p.m. at stadium 1.
The opening ceremony will begin on Thursday, October 22nd at 2:30 in the afternoon, just before the highly anticipated debut of the host team, marking the official start of this prestigious continental tournament.
Tournament format and medal definition
The competition system establishes that the two best teams from each group will qualify for the Super Round, which will be played from October 25 to 28. In this stage, the qualified teams will face opponents from other groups, maintaining the results previously obtained against the teams from their same zone that also managed to advance.
For teams finishing in third and fourth place in their respective groups, a parallel classification round has been organized. The grand conclusion of the event will take place on Thursday, October 29, with the bronze medal match at 10:00 a.m. and the gold medal final at 2:00 p.m., both at IPL Academy Stadium 1.
The official announcement was made at the Ministry of Sports facilities, also featuring the presence of FEDOM executives, including José Canó, first vice president, and Erick Then, secretary general, who highlighted the importance of this event for the development of young talent in baseball.
