10 Days to Go: 10 things to know about the XIV U-18 Men's Softball World Cup

The 2023 WBSC events calendar will have a fantastic climax with the 14th edition of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup that will take place in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 11 to 19 November.

Check out here 10 things you must know about this World Cup.

• This will be the third year in a row that Hermosillo hosts a WBSC event following the the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in 2021 and the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup last year.
• 11 teams will participate in this World Cup. Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czechia, Mexico, and Singapore are in Group A, while Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, USA, and Venezuela will be in Group B.

• After winning the seniors and the U-23 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cups, Australia is looking to win this tournament to become the first holders of all three WBSC Men's Softball World Cups (Senior, U-23 & U-18).
• Japan is the reigning World Champion in this age bracket after going undefeated in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in 2020, beating Australia in the World Championship Final.

• Nine out of the top 10 programmes on the Men's Softball World Ranking will be playing in this tournament, highlighting that the great talent present in Hermosillo.
• The new M170 Mizuno softball will make its debut at a men’s softball World Cup in Hermosillo. This is a more sustainable model that was first used at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup earlier this year.

• The tournament will be played in two venues, especially renovated for this event: The Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium and the Fernando M. Ortiz Stadium.
• Fans around the world can follow the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball Cup on GameTime Sport, the WBSC OTT platform.
• This tournament will be played under the traditional Opening, Super, and Placement Rounds system. The three top teams in each group will move into the Super Round, carrying their records against the other qualified teams. The top teams in the Super Round will play in the World Championship Final, and third and fourth place will play for the Bronze Medal.
• Five national teams have claimed the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup title in
  the past. Australia is the most decorated programme, with five titles, followed by Japan
  (3), New Zealand (2), Argentina (2), and Canada (1). All of them will be in Hermosillo.