The French national team has secured a place in the Super Round of the 2026 U18 Baseball5 European Championship after maintaining a perfect record through the tournament’s group stage in Policoro, Italy.
France claimed four wins across two days of competition without conceding a single set. The team opened the tournament on November 11 with two victories against Bulgaria, finishing 14–1 and 13–0, followed by a sweep of Spain with scores of 11–3 and 7–2.
On November 12, the French squad continued their momentum, defeating Belgium 22–0 and 6–4, before closing the day with two 10–0 shutout sets against Croatia, according to the Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball.
Through their first four matchups, the French team recorded 93 points while allowing only 10, resulting in a point differential of +83. The team reached double digits in six of the eight sets played and completed four of those frames without allowing their opponents to score. The second set against Belgium served as the most competitive match of the stretch, as the French team secured a 6–4 win after dominating the first set 22–0.
This tournament follows the team’s sixth-place finish at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The current roster includes six players who participated in the Dakar event, joined by newcomers Mathieu Capelli-Landrieu and Lilian Houdas. While the technical requirements and competitive environments differ between the two tournaments, the team has utilized these early results to build international experience.
France will face Italy on November 13 at 11:00 CET to determine the winner of the group. The result of this match affects the next stage of the tournament, as teams carry over the results of games played against other qualified opponents into the Super Round. A victory would allow France to enter the second phase with a 2–0 record, providing a strategic advantage in the pursuit of a medal.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the tournament moves into the Super Round on the afternoon of November 13. The specific match times for the French team will be finalized once all group standings are confirmed. If France finishes first in Group A, they are scheduled to play at 15:00 and 18:30. A second-place finish would result in matches at 15:30 and 19:30.
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