(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
10 Things to Know About the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 in Tepic, Mexico
The WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup returns for its second edition, set to take place in Tepic, Mexico, from 24 to 27 September 2025. The fast-paced urban version of baseball continues to grow in popularity, and this year’s tournament expands to 16 teams for the first time.
Here are 10 key facts to know ahead of the event:
1. Cuba Defends Its Crown
Cuba enters the competition as the defending champions, having won all nine games in Türkiye in 2023. The Cubans also claimed titles at the WBSC Baseball5 World Cups in 2022 and 2024, making them the only nation to hold every world title so far.
2. Only the Second Youth Edition
This is just the second staging of the Youth Baseball5 World Cup. Türkiye hosted the inaugural event in 2023, where Cuba won gold, France took silver, and Mexico earned bronze.
3. Expanded to 16 Teams
For the first time, the tournament features 16 national teams, reflecting Baseball5’s rapid international growth.
4. Group-Stage Format
The teams are split into four groups of four. Each group plays a round-robin stage before all 16 nations advance to the knockout rounds, starting with the round of 16.
5. The Host City: Tepic
The name Tepic comes from the Nahuatl words tetl (stone) and picqui (solid matter), referring to the region’s geological roots.
6. Playing Conditions
Tepic is located at an altitude of 920 metres. Players can expect humid conditions, with temperatures ranging between 20–28°C during the tournament.
7. WBSC Refugee Team
The WBSC Refugee Team will take part in a special training camp alongside the World Cup, offering players valuable experience at the global level.
8. Mexico as Host Nation
This is the second time Mexico hosts a Baseball5 World Cup, following the inaugural senior edition in Mexico City in 2022.
9. Baseball5’s Origins
The WBSC introduced Baseball5 in 2017, promoting it as a fast, youth-friendly, and urban version of traditional baseball.
10. Olympic Debut Ahead
Baseball5 will make its Youth Olympic Games debut in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026, marking another milestone in the sport’s global journey.
