The French national team begins its pursuit of the continental title this Wednesday, November 11, at the Euro Baseball5 U18 2026 in Policoro, Italy.
According to reports from the Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball (FFBS), thirteen nations have gathered at the PalaErcole venue to compete through November 14.
France enters the tournament in Group A, alongside Bulgaria, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, and the host nation, Italy. The team faces a rigorous opening phase, playing five matches over three days to secure a spot in the next round. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, where they will carry over their head-to-head results against other qualified teams from their pool.
The French squad faces a condensed schedule in the opening stage. All start times are listed in Central European Time (CET), which aligns with the local time in Policoro.
- Wednesday, November 11: France vs. Bulgaria, 9:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, November 11: France vs. Spain, 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 12: France vs. Belgium, 9:00 a.m.
- Thursday, November 12: France vs. Croatia, 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 13: France vs. Italy, 11:00 a.m.
Advancement to the Super Round is the primary goal, as this stage determines the final medalists. Because results against fellow qualifiers are retained, opening matches determine early standings; for instance, beating a group rival that also advances provides a head start.
There are no traditional semifinals in this format. Instead, the top two teams in the final Super Round standings will compete for the gold medal, while the third and fourth-placed teams will play for the bronze on November 14.
Fans can follow the action via the official Baseball Europe TV platform, which provides live video coverage of the tournament. The WBSC Europe website serves as the primary resource for real-time results, updated standings, and the full competition schedule. The FFBS will also provide updates on its official website and social media channels throughout the event.
For teams that do not qualify for the Super Round, the tournament continues with classification matches to determine final rankings from 7th to 13th place. Depending on their finish in Group A, the French team could face various opponents on November 13 and 14 to finalize their position in the tournament standings.
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