Classification System Defined for Baseball and Softball at Los Angeles 2028
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has revealed the official qualification system for the baseball and softball tournaments to be held at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This process, approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), includes eight international competitions as pathways to the Olympic event.
Olympic Route for Baseball
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will mark the beginning of the qualifying path. This event, scheduled from March 5 to 17, will offer two Olympic spots to the teams from the American continent with the best performance that have not yet secured their place in the Games.
As the host country, the United States is already guaranteed participation in both the men’s baseball and women’s softball tournaments.
Other Key Tournaments in Baseball
The Premier12 tournament, which in 2027 will expand its number of participants from 12 to 16 national teams, will award a ticket to the best team in Asia and another to the best-ranked team from Europe or Oceania. This competition will take place in November of that year.
The last available spot will be defined in a world tournament that will bring together six teams:
- The two best unranked sets from the Asian Championship.
- The two best unranked sets from the European Championship.
- The best unranked team from Africa.
- The best unranked team from Oceania.
Each Olympic selection may register a roster of 24 players, who must be at least 18 years old during the year of the competition.
Softball Ranking
In women’s softball, the first qualifying opportunity will be at the WBSC World Cup Final in 2027, which will award a spot to the best non-qualified team.
Subsequently, continental tournaments will be held in Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and America, each with a direct ticket at stake. The teams that occupy the second and third places in certain continental zones will compete in a final qualifying event to define the last spot.
With this system, the WBSC seeks to ensure global representation and a high level of competition in the Olympic baseball and softball tournaments in Los Angeles 2028.
