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The WBSC World Rankings is a ranking system for national teams in baseball, softball, and baseball5. The teams of the member nations of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), baseball's world governing body, are ranked based on their tournament results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. A point system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of WBSC-recognized international tournaments. Under the existing system, rankings are based on a team's performance over the last four years, with major international tournaments awarded a higher weighting compared to minor international and continental tournaments.
Five rankings are published by the WBSC, they are: Men's Baseball, Women's Baseball, Women's Softball, Men's Softball, and Baseball5. [3]
In January 2009, the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) first published a listing in rank order of its member associations to provide a basis for comparison of the relative strengths of these teams. Though primarily focused on the respective men's senior teams of member nations, the current ranks also include points awarded based on results at the IBAF 'AAA' (Under 18) Junior and 'AA' (Under 16) Youth Championships held during the tracking period. As a result from the merger with softball in 2013, the WBSC is also responsible for ranking international men's and women's softball teams. [4] Beginning in 2015, the rankings also determine which twelve teams participate in the WBSC Premier12 tournament.
The rankings of November 2023 saw a record 80 nations earning rankings. [5]
Rank | Change | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Argentina | 4224 | |
2 | 2 | Australia | 3551 |
3 | Japan | 3451 | |
4 | 2 | Canada | 3358 |
5 | United States | 2655 | |
6 | Czech Republic | 2526 | |
7 | New Zealand | 2280 | |
8 | Venezuela | 2133 | |
9 | Cuba | 1807 | |
10 | Mexico | 1775 | |
11 | Denmark | 1069 | |
12 | 2 | Singapore | 994 |
13 | Guatemala | 934 | |
14 | 2 | South Africa | 894 |
15 | Philippines | 623 | |
16 | Netherlands | 412 | |
17 | 4 | Israel | 339 |
18 | 1 | Botswana | 253 |
19 | 1 | Dominican Republic | 221 |
20 | 1 | Chinese Taipei | 192 |
*Change from 31 December 2022 |
Date | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 December 2016 | Japan | United States | Canada | Australia | New Zealand |
17 December 2018 | United States | Japan | Canada | Puerto Rico | Mexico |
31 December 2019 | United States | Japan | Canada | Puerto Rico | Mexico |
1 January 2020 | United States | Japan | Canada | Puerto Rico | Mexico |
28 June 2021 | United States | Japan | Canada | Puerto Rico | Mexico |
11 August 2021 | Japan | United States | Canada | Mexico | Puerto Rico |
31 December 2021 | United States | Japan | Canada | Mexico | Puerto Rico |
31 December 2022 | United States | Japan | Chinese Taipei | Canada | Puerto Rico |
12 April 2023 | United States | Japan | Chinese Taipei | Puerto Rico | Canada |
31 July 2023 | United States | Japan | Puerto Rico | Canada | Chinese Taipei |
10 November 2023 | United States | Japan | Puerto Rico | Chinese Taipei | Canada |
31 December 2023 | United States | Japan | Puerto Rico | Chinese Taipei | Canada |
Softball saw a ranking featuring 66 countries in November 2023. [7]
Date | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 December 2018 | South Africa | Ireland | India | Mexico | Dominican Republic |
31 December 2019 | Belgium | Germany | Poland | Spain | Ireland |
28 June 2021 | Croatia | Germany | Slovakia | Spain | Russia |
11 August 2021 | Cuba | Indonesia | Hong Kong | Botswana | Curaçao |
31 December 2021 | Denmark | Peru | Belgium | Slovakia | Sweden |
31 December 2022 | Argentina | El Salvador | Slovakia | Greece | Israel |
12 April 2023 | Singapore | Philippines | South Korea | Thailand | Botswana |
31 July 2023 | Cuba | Curaçao | Botswana | Venezuela | South Africa |
10 November 2023 | Philippines | Singapore | Hong Kong | Belgium | Hungary |
31 December 2023 | Dominican Republic | Colombia | Guatemala | Chile | Ecuador |
Rank | Change | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 970 | |
2 | Chinese Taipei | 841 | |
3 | 2 | Venezuela | 581 |
4 | United States | 510 | |
5 | 7 | Mexico | 496 |
6 | 3 | Puerto Rico | 490 |
7 | 4 | Hong Kong | 451 |
8 | 5 | Canada | 428 |
9 | 1 | South Korea | 413 |
10 | 3 | Cuba | 350 |
11 | 3 | Philippines | 324 |
12 | 3 | China | 277 |
13 | 5 | Australia | 264 |
14 | 2 | France | 180 |
15 | 3 | India | 177 |
16 | 3 | Pakistan | 115 |
17 | Indonesia | 109 | |
18 | 12 | Dominican Republic | 72 |
19 | Thailand | 68 | |
20 | Czech Republic | 56 | |
*Change from 31 December 2021 |
In the wake of the International Olympic Committee's decision to cut baseball from the 2012 Olympics program, the IBAF pushed the growth of women's baseball as to include a women's component in its bid for a reinstatement of the sport in future Olympics. The effort to unify the sports resulted in the merger of the IBAF with the International Softball Federation in 2013 to create the WBSC. [9]
The initial women's baseball rankings were based upon results from past Women's Baseball World Cups. While the calculations of the women's rankings are similar to that of the men's, one main difference is that they are inclusive of the three most recent IBAF Women's Baseball World Cups whereas the men's rankings only include the last two. Points are weighted in favor of the more recent results. [10]
Baseball5 is a mixed-gender sport, with each team of 5 active players having at least 2 players of either gender.
Rank | Change | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | France | 3037 |
2 | 1 | Chinese Taipei | 2775 |
3 | Cuba | 2393 | |
4 | Tunisia | 1995 | |
5 | 5 | Lithuania | 1892 |
6 | 1 | Japan | 1639 |
7 | 1 | South Africa | 1593 |
8 | 1 | Mexico | 1560 |
9 | 1 | South Korea | 1442 |
10 | 1 | Ghana | 1219 |
11 | 5 | Italy | 1194 |
12 | 7 | Netherlands | 1179 |
13 | 2 | Turkey | 1144 |
14 | 2 | Kenya | 1046 |
15 | 2 | China | 1030 |
16 | 7 | Belgium | 952 |
17 | 3 | Romania | 905 |
17 | 3 | Venezuela | 905 |
19 | 2 | Czech Republic | 885 |
20 | 5 | Malaysia | 842 |
*Change from 18 October 2023 |
Points are awarded in the men's baseball rankings according to finishes in the Premier12, World Baseball Classic, U-23 Baseball World Cup, U-18 Baseball World Cup, U-15 Baseball World Cup and U-12 Baseball World Cup as follows. [12]
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Points | 1380 | 1102 | 1004 | 906 | 808 | 710 | 612 | 514 | 416 | 318 | 220 | 122 |
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Points | 1150 | 940 | 880 | 820 | 760 | 700 | 640 | 580 | 520 | 460 | 400 | 340 | 280 | 220 | 160 | 100 |
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Points | 690 | 551 | 502 | 453 | 404 | 355 | 306 | 257 | 208 | 159 | 110 | 61 |
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Points | 575 | 459 | 418 | 377 | 336 | 295 | 254 | 213 | 172 | 131 | 90 | 49 |
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Points | 460 | 367 | 334 | 301 | 268 | 235 | 202 | 169 | 136 | 103 | 70 | 37 |
Final rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Points | 345 | 275 | 250 | 225 | 200 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 75 | 50 | 25 |
The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) is the former worldwide governing body of baseball. It has since been superseded by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), and continues to exist as the WBSC's baseball division. Between 1944 and 1975, it was known by its Spanish-language name, as the Federación Internacional de Béisbol Amateur, or FIBA.
The Baseball World Cup (BWC) was an international baseball tournament for national teams around the world, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). First held in 1938 as the Amateur World Series (AWS), it was, for most of its history, the highest level of international baseball competition in the world. Even after it was supplanted in this regard in 2006 by the modern World Baseball Classic (WBC), the Baseball World Cup was still considered by the IBAF to be a major world championship, along with the WBC and the Summer Olympic Games.
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. It is ranked as the top team in Oceania, and is the Oceanian Champion, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. After achieving a last (16th) place in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, its rank dropped to 13, which is the lowest rank Australia ever received. The highest rank it has achieved is 6th, and its current rank is 10th.
The United States national baseball team, also known as Team USA represents the United States in international-level baseball competitions. The team is currently ranked 2nd in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The United States has won many international tournaments, many of which are now discontinued. Most notably the team won the Olympic baseball tournament in 2000, and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2017.
The WBSC Oceania, formerly known as Baseball Confederation of Oceania, is the governing body of baseball and softball within Oceania, and is responsible for the Oceania Baseball Championship.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe, known as WBSC Europe, was established on February 10, 2018, during a Congress of the Confederation of European Baseball and the European Softball Federation in Val d’Europe, France. the establishment of WBSC Europe followed the historic merger of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and the European Softball Federation (ESF). As of September 2022, WBSC Europe counts 40 members for baseball and 39 for softball.
The WBSC Asia, formerly known as, Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) is the governing body of the sport of baseball and softball in Asia. The federation is governed by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
The World University Baseball Championship is an under-23 international college baseball competition sponsored by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and was first held in 2002 in Italy. Until 2013, it was sanctioned by the then-International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and was one of several tournaments considered by the IBAF to be a minor world championship, and as such the results of the tournaments affected the IBAF World Rankings. For its men's world rankings, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) -- successor to the IBAF—now uses the results of WBSC's biennial 23U Baseball World Cup.
The Pakistan national baseball team is the national team representing Pakistan in international baseball tournaments and competitions. The team is controlled and governed by the Pakistan Federation Baseball, which is represented in the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA), having been ranked #5 in Asia, just behind China. They are ranked as the top and one of the most successful baseball teams in South Asia, winning the first SAARC Baseball Championship 8–2 against Sri Lanka in 2011. As of 2023, Pakistan is currently ranked 38th in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
The U-18 Baseball World Cup is the 18-and-under baseball world championship sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and its successor, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), and was first held in 1981 in the United States. Because it is a world championship, the results of the U-18 Baseball World Cup affect the WBSC World Rankings.
The Women's Baseball World Cup is an international tournament in which national women's baseball teams from around the world compete. Through its 2012 edition, it was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation; following the 2013 merger of the IBAF with the International Softball Federation, subsequent tournaments are sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). In the eight times it has been held, the tournament has been won twice by the United States and six consecutive times by Japan in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.
The Australian women's national baseball team, nicknamed the Emeralds, represents Australia in international women's baseball tournaments and competitions. The team is controlled by the Australian Baseball Federation, which is represented in the Baseball Confederation of Oceania (BCO). They are the only team in Oceania to be formally ranked by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), and are the 3rd ranked women's baseball team in the world. The Emeralds have been in existence since 2001, when the first ever squad was selected from the 2001 National Women’s Championships, held in Sydney. They compete in the biennial IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup.
The U-15 Baseball World Cup is the 15-and-under baseball world championship that features national teams as authorized ("sanctioned") by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). It began in 1989 as the World Youth Baseball Championship. In 2012 it became the 15U Baseball World Cup and is contested every two years. Because it is a world championship event, the results of the 15U Baseball World Cup affect the WBSC World Rankings.
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".
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the world governing body for the sports of baseball, softball, and Baseball5. It was established in 2013 by the merger of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and International Softball Federation (ISF). Under the WBSC's organizational structure, the IBAF and ISF now serve as the confederation's baseball and softball divisions, respectively. Each division is governed by an executive committee, while the WBSC is governed by an executive board.
The U-23 Baseball World Cup is a biennial, professional-level, National Team, baseball world championship of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), replacing Baseball World Cup.
The WBSC Premier12 is the international baseball tournament organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), featuring the 12 highest-ranked national baseball teams in the world. The first tournament was held by Taiwan and Japan in November 2015. The second tournament, 2019 WBSC Premier12, was held in November 2019, and served as a qualifier for two teams for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
This article contains lists of achievements in major senior-level international baseball and softball tournaments according to first-place, second-place and third-place results obtained by teams representing different nations. The objective is not to create combined medal tables; the focus is on listing the best positions achieved by teams in major international tournaments, ranking the nations according to the most number of podiums accomplished by teams of these nations.
Baseball5 (B5) is an internationally played safe haven game with many of the same rules as baseball and softball, which is governed alongside those sports by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
The Japan national Baseball5 team represents Japan in international Baseball5 competitions.