U-12 Baseball World Cup Explained

Last Season:2023 U-12 Baseball World Cup
Formerly:12U Baseball World Championship (2011)
Sport:Baseball
Founded:2011
Teams:14
Continent:International
Champion: (2023)
Most Champs: (5 titles)
Website:WBSC.org

The U-12 Baseball World Cup is the under-12 baseball world championship sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and its predecessor the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), and is the most elite and highest level of competition in its age category. The U-12 Baseball World Championship is scheduled to be held every two years and launched in 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan as the "12U Baseball World Championship".

Unlike other youth international competitions like the Little League World Series, which involve local clubs, the U-12 Baseball World Cup is the only global event across baseball—and all of sport—to feature national teams in this age group (11 to 12 years-old).

The U-12 Baseball World Cup is played under the IBAF's International Rules. Dimensions of regulation U-12 Baseball World Cup ballparks (distance to the outfield fence, pitching mound, base paths, etc.) are significantly increased compared to local youth leagues, due to the superior nature and strength of the players involved.

Because the U-12 Baseball World Cup is considered a "world championship" event, the results of the tournaments affect the WBSC World Rankings.

The inaugural tournament took place in July 2011 and was won by its host Chinese Taipei. The tournament was slated to include 13 national teams and crowned the first ever world champion. Through this tournament, the WBSC looked to assume a leadership position for this age bracket in conjunction with major youth baseball organizations to further develop and promote baseball across the world. The tournament was hosted in Taipei City, one of the prominent tournament venues for international baseball competitions.

Results

Year Host Medalists
width=17%Goldwidth=17%Silverwidth=17%Bronze

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Taipei

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Taipei

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Tainan

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Tainan

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Tainan

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Tainan

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Tainan
2025
Tainan
2027
Tainan
2029

2 Originally scheduled to be held in 2021, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed to summer 2022.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup rescheduled for summer 2022 in Tainan, TPE . VI U-12 Baseball World Cup 2021 . World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) . 25 September 2021.