Little League World Series in Europe explained

Europe and Africa Little League Championship
Last Season:2024 Little League World Series qualification
Sport:Baseball
Countries:European and African
Champion: South Czech Republic Little League, Brno, Czech Republic
Most Champs: Arabian American Little League, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (17)

Europe first participated in the Little League World Series in . Teams from Europe were given a berth in the LLWS each year between 1960 and 2000 (with the exception of the temporary ban of international teams in). In 2001, the region was split into two co-terminus regions: Europe (later EMEA) Region and Transatlantic Region. The Europe Region comprised mostly native European teams while the Transatlantic Region comprised mostly American expatriates. This distinction was eliminated in 2008; from 2008 to 2012, teams made up of either native Europeans or American expatriates were eligible to qualify from the Europe Region.

Starting with the 2013 LLWS, the region was renamed the Europe and Africa Region. African countries were added as a result of a major reorganization of the international (non - U.S.) regions. This move was triggered by Little League's announcement that Australia would receive its own LLWS berth starting in 2013. Two Middle Eastern countries, Israel and Turkey, have been part of European regions since they instituted Little League programs, as they were then members of the European zone of the International Baseball Federation and remain in the same zone under baseball's modern international governing body, the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Israel and Turkey have stayed in the renamed Europe and Africa Region to this day.[1]

No team from the European region has ever reached the final of the Little League World Series. The best finishes for a European team occurred in, and, when European teams reached the semifinals. Aviano, Italy, made it that far - in the 8-team format - in 1979. Kaiserslautern, Germany and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia made the International final in back-to-back years in 1993 and 1994.

Europe and Africa Region Countries

European champions (1960–2000)

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
Berlin Command LL BerlinSixth Place1 - 2
Pirmasens Housing Area LL PirmasensEighth Place0 - 3
Poitiers Post LL PoitiersSixth Place1 - 2
İzmir LL İzmirFourth Place0 - 2
Wiesbaden LL Wiesbaden Air Force BaseEighth Place0 - 3
Rota LL RotaEighth Place0 - 3
Rhein-Main LL Rhein-Main Air BaseSeventh Place1 - 2
Rota LL RotaSeventh Place (tie)0 - 2
Wiesbaden LL Wiesbaden Air Force BaseEighth Place0 - 3
Wiesbaden LL Wiesbaden Air Force BaseSixth Place1 - 2
Wiesbaden LL Wiesbaden Air Force BaseSixth Place1 - 2
Madrid LL MadridFourth Place1 - 2
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridEighth Place0 - 3
Bitburg AB LL Bitburg Air BaseSeventh Place1 - 2
Athena Airport LL AthensEighth Place0 - 3
No participant
Kaiserslautern LL KaiserslauternSixth Place1 - 2
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridSeventh Place1 - 2
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridEighth Place0 - 3
Aviano Air Base LL AvianoFourth Place1 - 2
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridEighth Place0 - 3
SHAPE LL WaterlooEighth Place0 - 3
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridFifth Place2 - 1
Arabian Gulf LL Al KhobarSeventh Place1 - 2
Brussels Sports Association LL BrusselsSeventh Place1 - 2
Arabian Gulf LL Al KhobarEighth Place0 - 3
Torrejon Air Base LL MadridEighth Place0 - 3
Aramco LL DhahranFifth Place (tie)1 - 1
Aramco LL DhahranFifth Place2 - 1
Aramco LL DhahranSixth Place1 - 2
Falcon LL Ramstein Air BaseSeventh Place (tie)0 - 2
Arabian American LL DhahranEighth Place 0 - 3
Kaiserslautern LL Kaiserslautern4th Place, Group Stage0 - 3
Kaiserslautern LL KaiserslauternThird Place (tie)2 - 2
Arabian American LL DhahranThird Place (tie)2 - 2
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd Place, Group Stage1 - 2
Arabian American LL Dhahran4th Place, Group Stage0 - 3
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd Place, Group Stage1 - 2
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd Place, Group Stage1 - 2
Ramstein American LL Ramstein Air Base4th Place, Group Stage0 - 3
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd Place, Group Stage1 - 2

Europe/Europe, Middle East & Africa Region (2001–2007)

In 2001, with the LLWS expanding to sixteen teams, the European region split into two co-terminous regions. The Europe region consisted of teams that were primarily made up of players native to each country; no team could have more than three players from the United States, Canada, or Japan. The Europe region was named the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region between 2004 and 2007; however, no Middle Eastern or African team participated in qualifiers for the EMEA Series berth (although Kenya sent a team to the European qualifier in 2001[2] and South Africa did the same in 2003[3]). In 2008, Little League removed the native players rule and split the EMEA and Transatlantic region into the Europe and Middle East-Africa regions. The following teams represented the European region after 2000:

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
Khovrino LL Moscow4th place, Pool D0–3
Khovrino LL Moscow4th place, Pool D0–3
Khovrino LL Moscow3rd place, Pool D1–2
Kutno LL Kutno4th place, Pool C0–3
Brateevo LL Moscow4th place, Pool C0–3
Brateevo LL Moscow4th place, Pool D0–3
Windmills LL Apeldoorn4th place, Pool D0–3

Transatlantic Region (2001–2007)

The Transatlantic region encompassed the same territory as the Europe/EMEA region, but consisted of teams that were made up of at least 51% American, Canadian, or Japanese citizens.

Regional championship

Below are the champions of the Transatlantic region, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green.

YearAustriaBelgiumEnglandGermanyItalyNetherlandsSaudi ArabiaSpainUnited Arab Emirates
2001Vienna LL
Vienna
Belgium Int'l LL
Brussels
London Area Youth LL
London
Eifel LL
Bitburg/Spangdahlem
Naples LL
Naples
No ParticipantArabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2002N/A
Austria
N/A
Belgium
N/A
England
N/A
Germany
N/A
Italy
N/A
Netherlands
Arabian American LL
Dharhan
N/A
Spain
No Participant
2003AIBC Little League
Vienna
SHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth
London
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2004No ParticipantSHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth
London
Ramstein American LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Geilenkirchen-American/Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum/Geilenkirchen
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Madrid LL
Madrid
No Participant
2005No ParticipantSHAPE and Brussels LL
Brussels
East Anglia LL
Suffolk
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
Brunssum/Schinnen LL
Brunssum
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Rota LL
Rota
No Participant
2006No ParticipantSHAPE and Waterloo LL
Brussels
London Area Youth LL
London
Ramstein LL
Ramstein
Naples LL
Naples
No ParticipantArabian American LL
Dhahran
No ParticipantDubai LL
Dubai
2007No ParticipantNo ParticipantLondon Area Youth LL
London
Stuttgart American LL
Stuttgart
Naples LL
Naples
No ParticipantArabian American LL
Dhahran
No ParticipantDubai LL
Dubai

LLWS performance

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd place, Pool C1–2
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd place, Pool C2–1
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd place, Pool C1–2
Arabian American LL Dhahran3rd place, Pool D1–2
Arabian American LL Dhahran4th place, Pool D0–3
Arabian American LL DhahranInt'l Semifinal2–2
Arabian American LL Dhahran4th place, Pool C0–2

Europe Region (2008–2012)

From 2008 to 2012, Europe had its own region.

Regional Championships

Below are the champions of the Europe region, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green.A Dash, "-", indicates country had no participant that year.

YearBelarusBelgiumBulgariaCzech RepublicEnglandGermanyHungaryIrelandItalyLithuaniaMoldovaNetherlandsPolandSerbiaSwedenTurkeyUkraine
2008-Brussels LL
Brussels
Dupnitsa LL
Dupnitsa
South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
Baden Wuerttemberg LL
Mannheim
-Ireland LL
Dublin
Emilia LL
Emilia
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Windmills Utrecht LL
Utrecht
-Malardalen LL
Malardalen
Turkiye LL
Istanbul
Kirovograd Center/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2009Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
-Dupnitsa LL
Dupnitsa
South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
--Marche LL
Marche
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
-Alkmaar LL
Alkmaar
Żory/Rybnik/
Jastrzębie LL
Slask
--Mediterranean LL
Istanbul
Kirovograd Center/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2010Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
-South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Youth Area LL
London
KMC American LL
Ramstein
--Friuli-Venezia Giulia LL
Friuli V.G.
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
Zory/Jastrzebie/
Rybnik LL
Slask
---Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2011Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders West LL
Flanders
-South Moravia LL
South Moravia
London Area Youth LL
London
- --Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
Kutno LL
Kutno
- Stockholm LL
Stockholm
-Kirovograd Center LL/Nove Celo LL
Kirovograd
2012Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
-South Moravia LL
Prague
London Area Youth LL
London
MOBSSZ Debrecen/Janossomorja LL
Budapest/
Debrecen/
Jánossomorja
-Lazio LL
Lazio
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
-Nord-Holland LL
Alkmaar
Kutno LL
Kutno
Serbia LL
Belgrad
--Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd

LLWS Performance

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
Emilia LL Emilia4th place, Pool C0–3
KMC American LL Kaiserslautern4th place, Pool D0–3
KMC American LL Ramstein ABGroup Stage1–2
Rotterdam LL RotterdamRound 10–3
KMC American LL Ramstein ABRound 10–3

Europe and Africa Region (2013–)

As noted above, the Europe Region was expanded to include Africa in 2013. Results are as of the 2024 Little League World Series.

Europe-Africa Qualifier

Starting in 2018, a qualification tournament was added into the Europe and Africa regional tournament as a way of expanding for other countries and teams to be involved. Ten teams have an automatic bid into the regional tournament based on participation and enrollment figures. Additional countries wishing to enter the tournament are placed into the qualifier tournament. The format of the qualifier tournament is a round robin with four teams advancing to an elimination round where the two semifinal winners advanced to the double-elimination regional tournament, although a different format was used in 2023 where four participants in the qualification tournament advanced to the regional tournament.

YearTeamsFinal 4Semifinalists
(Advanced to Regional)
Qualifier Tournament
Champions
Austria
Belarus
Croatia
Hungary
Poland
Switzerland
1
2
3
4

Championship was
canceled due to
inclement weather.
[4] Belgium
Croatia
Hungary
Poland
Switzerland
1 Croatia
2 Switzerland
3 Belgium
4 Hungary
Croatia
Belgium
Croatia
[5] Pool A
France
Poland
Switzerland
Kyiv, Ukraine

Pool B
Germany
Israel
Lithuania
Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Advanced to Regional

Kyiv, Ukraine
Germany
France
Switzerland
No semifinal games heldNo champion designated
[6] Croatia
Estonia
Israel
Lithuania
Gdańsk, Poland
Wrocław, Poland
Ukraine
1 Israel
2 Croatia
3 Lithuania
4 Estonia
Israel
Lithuania
Israel

Regional Championships

Below are the champions of the Europe and Africa, along with participants for each year. The year's winner is indicated in green.A Dash, "-", indicates country had no participant that year.

YearAustriaBelarusBelgiumCroatiaCzech RepublicFranceGermanyHungaryIsraelItalyLithuaniaMoldovaNetherlandsPolandRomaniaSerbiaSouth AfricaSpainSwitzerlandUgandaUnited KingdomUkraine
2013East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
--South Moravia LL
Brno
Haute Normandie LL
Rouen
KMC American LL
Ramstein
--Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
-Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
--Serbia LL
Belgrade
----London Area Youth LL
London
Rivne LL
Rivne
2014-Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
-South Moravia LL
Brno
Aquitaine LL
Aquitaine
KMC American LL
Ramstein
--Emilia LL
Emilia
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
BUKS
GepardyŻory LL
-Serbia LL
Belgrade
-Catalunya LL
Catalunya
--London Area Youth LL
London
Kirovograd LL
Kirovograd
2015East Austria LL
Vienna
Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Brussels LL
Brussels
-South Moravia LL
Brno
-KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central LL
Budapest
-Emilia LL
Emilia
-Kvint LL
Tiraspol
Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
Zory/
Jastrzebie/
Rybnik LL
---Catalunya LL
Barcelona
-AVRS Secondary School LL
Kampala
London Youth Baseball LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2016Austria East LL
Vienna
Brest Zubrs LL
Brest
Flanders East LL
Antwerp
Croatia North LL
Zagreb
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Ile-de-France 2 LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central/
Eastern LL
Budapest
-Emilia LL
Emilia
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
-Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
----Catalunya LL
Barcelona
--London Youth Baseball LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2017East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Flanders West LL
Brussels
Croatia North LL
Zagreb
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
-KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central/
Eastern LL
Budapest
-Emilia LL
Emilia
--Den Haag LL
The Hague
Zory/
Rybnik/
Jastrzebie LL
CSS Calarasi LL
Calarasi
--Catalunya LL
Barcelona
--London Youth Baseball LL
London
Rivne LL
Rivne
2018East Austria LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Brussels LL
Brussels
-Northwest Czech Republic LL
Prague
Ile-De-France LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
--Friuli-Venezia Giulia LL
Ronchi dei Legionari
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
-Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
----Catalunya LL
Barcelona
--London LL
London
Kirovograd Center LL
Kirovograd
2019Austria East LL
Vienna
Sugar Storm LL
Skidel
Brussels LL
Brussels
Croatia North LL
Karlovac
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Ile-De-France LL
Paris
KMC American LL
Ramstein
Central LL
Budapest
-Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
Kaunas LL
Kaunas
-Amsterdam LL
Amsterdam
Kedzierzy Kozle LL
---Catalunya LL
Barcelona
--South/East London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School LL
Kyiv
2022[7] East Austria LL
Vienna
--Croatia North LL
Sisak
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
----Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
--Kennemerland LL
Haarlem
----Catalunya LL
Barcelona
Switzerland East/West LL
Basel
-London LL
London
Odesa/Mykolaiv/Kyiv LL
Odesa/Mykolaiv/Kyiv
2023[8] East Austria LL
Vienna
--Croatia North LL
Sisak
South Czech Republic LL
Brno
SUD LL
Nice
South-East Germany LL
Munich
--Veneto LL
Verona
--Midden-Nederland LL
Utrecht
----Catalunya LL
Barcelona
Switzerland East/West LL
Basel
-London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School LL
Kyiv
2024[9] East Austria LL
Vienna
---South Czech Republic LL
Brno
Sud LL
Nice
South-East Germany LL
Munich
-South/Center LL
Beit Shemesh
Emilia Romagna LL
Bologna
Vilnius LL
Vilnius
-Rotterdam LL
Rotterdam
---Western Cape Baseball LL
Cape Town
Madrid LL
Madrid
Switzerland West/East LL
Zurich
-London LL
London
Kyiv Baseball School/Rivne LL
Kyiv/Rivne

LLWS Performance

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
South Moravia LL BrnoRound 11–2
South Moravia LL BrnoRound 10–3
AVRS Secondary School LL KampalaRound 21–2
Emilia LL EmiliaRound 10–3
Emilia LL EmiliaRound 10–3
Catalunya LL BarcelonaRound 10–3
Emilia Romagna LL BolognaRound 10–3
2020align=center colspan=4Cancelled due to COVID-19 crisis [10]
align=center colspan=4No participant
Emilia Romagna LL BolognaRound 21–2
South Czech Republic LL BrnoRound 10–2
South Czech Republic LL BrnoRound 10–2

By country

Table includes results from Europe, EMEA, Transatlantic and Europe and Africa regions through the 2024 Little League World Series. Italics indicates team is no longer either a part of the European region or the African region that participate in the joint regional championship.

CountryEuropean/Regional
Championships
Record
in LLWS
PCT
1918–39
169–39
104–25
62–16
51–14
41–9
21–5
20–6
11–2
11–2
10–2
10–3
10–3
Total6938–164

External links

Notes and References

  1. Regions Realigned for 2013: Australia to Play in Little League Baseball World Series . Little League Baseball . August 29, 2012 . September 17, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120923225531/http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2012/May-Aug/RegionsRealignedfor2013WS.htm . September 23, 2012 .
  2. Web site: 2001 Little League Baseball . 2010-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121005141415/http://www.littleleague.org/series/2001divisions/llbb/qualify/europe.htm . 2012-10-05 . dead .
  3. Web site: 2003 Little League Baseball . 2010-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180110111106/http://www.littleleague.org/series/2003divisions/llbb/series.htm . 2018-01-10 . dead .
  4. Web site: LLB Europe-Africa Qualifier . Little League . 12 July 2024.
  5. Web site: LLB Europe-Africa Region Qualifying Tournament . Little League . 12 July 2024.
  6. Web site: 2024 LLB Europe-Africa Region Qualifying Tournament . Little League . 11 July 2024.
  7. Web site: LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament. Little League . 24 July 2024.
  8. Web site: LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament. Little League . 22 July 2024.
  9. Web site: 2024 LLB Europe-Africa Region Tournament. Little League . 18 July 2024.
  10. Web site: Little League® Cancels 2020 World Series and Region Tournaments. 30 April 2020.