Nicaragua will serve as the host nation for the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup presented by RAXUS. The tournament was scheduled to take place from November 7 to November 16, 2026.
The competition will feature 12 teams divided into two distinct groups. Group A contains Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, Panama, Australia, Nicaragua, and the Czech Republic. Group B consists of Japan, Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Great Britain, and South Africa.
Huge win for Nicaragua against Puerto Rico! 🇳🇮 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup presented by RAXUS#BaseballWorldCupU23 pic.twitter.com/5SCyLgpWmk
Nicaragua hosts matches at three specific venues
Matches will be played across three specific venues within Nicaragua. The tournament is located in Nicaragua (Managua) at the Estadio Nacional SoberanÃa. Additional games are scheduled for the Estadio Roberto Clemente in Masaya and the Estadio Rigoberto López Pérez.
Tournament format moves from opening round to Super Round
The tournament format begins with an opening round followed by a Super Round. The Super Round schedule is set to begin on November 13, 2026. During this phase, teams from Group A and Group B will compete against one another to determine the finalists. On November 13, the Super Round will include matchups between Group B 3rd Place and Group A 3rd Place, Group B 1st Place and Group A 1st Place, and Group B 2nd Place and Group A 2nd Place.
The following day, November 14, features Group B 1st Place against Group A 2nd Place, Group A 1st Place against Group B 3rd Place, and Group B 2nd Place against Group A 3rd Place. On November 15, the schedule includes Group A 1st Place vs. Group B 2nd Place, Group A 2nd Place vs. Group B 3rd Place, and Group B 1st Place vs. Group A 3rd Place.
The final stages of the tournament are scheduled as follows:
- November 13, 2026: Super Round matches involving various placements from Groups A and B.
- November 14, 2026: Continued Super Round play.
- November 15, 2026: Final Super Round matchups.
- November 16, 2026: The 3rd Place Game and the World Cup Final, both held at Estadio Nacional SoberanÃa.
Final matchups
The tournament concludes on November 16, 2026, at the Estadio Nacional SoberanÃa. The 3rd Place Game will be contested between the Super Round 3rd Place and Super Round 4th Place teams. The World Cup Final will feature the Super Round 1st Place team against the Super Round 2nd Place team.
Japan Standard Time differs from Managua local time
Because the tournament is held in Managua, Nicaragua, there is a 15-hour time difference between the local venue time and Japan Standard Time. All scheduled dates and times are provided based on Japan Standard Time.
WBSC U-23 World Cup details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start Date | November 7, 2026 |
| End Date | November 16, 2026 |
| Host Country | Nicaragua |
| Primary Venue | Estadio Nacional SoberanÃa |
Questions about the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup
Where will the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup final be played?
The final match is scheduled to take place at the Estadio Nacional SoberanÃa in Managua, Nicaragua, on November 16, 2026.
Nicaragua defeat Puerto Rico in dramatic fashion to move to 2-1! 🇳🇮 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup presented by RAXUS#BaseballWorldCupU23 pic.twitter.com/4Fh5mwxtYm
Which teams are in Group B?
According to the tournament overview, Group B includes Japan, Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Great Britain, and South Africa.
How many days does the tournament last?
The tournament runs from November 7 through November 16, 2026.
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