Urban and fast-paced sports are booming. Baseball5 is one of them. This version of baseball/softball has the advantage of requiring little equipment, being playable on any surface, and with only five players per team, making it significantly easier to promote worldwide. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has recognized this and is increasingly promoting the sport, much like the IFAF with flag football.
An "impressive" expansion
The year 2025 confirmed this trend, as highlighted by WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari : " The popularity of our disciplines in multisport events continues to grow, with baseball, softball and baseball5 all present at the Southeast Asian Games, baseball5 added to the program of the Mediterranean Games as an additional sport, and baseball and softball included in the Bolivarian Games and the Pacific Mini Games. "The organizing committee for the 2030 Mediterranean Games in Pristina has also listed baseball5 among the potential additional sports in its program.
« I am thrilled to see baseball5 continue its impressive global expansion, reaching new audiences around the world and creating new pathways for young people to engage in our sport "Discipline will occupy a central place in," the president stated. the memorandum of understanding recently signed with the International School Sport Federation (ISF). " Inclusive and inexpensive "Baseball5" This perfectly aligns with the ISF's vision of accessible school sport. "said ISF President Željko Tanasković. And what better way to reach young people and introduce them to this sport than through schools?"
The Dakar Youth Olympic Games, "a historic moment"
The World Youth Baseball Cup, held in Mexico in September, brought together 16 teams, four more than before. This increase also reflects the growth of the sport. For the first time, the tournament saw the participation of a refugee team. It was not only an excellent experience on the field, but also a fantastic cultural experience off the field, as all the other participating teams were very welcoming and friendly. "According to head coach Amjed Alatoom, the WBSC has also worked to introduce baseball5 to refugee camps such as those in Azraq, Jordan, and Kakuma, Kenya.
This 16-team format will be replicated this year at the Senior World Cup in Rome. Another first. The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will also mark " a historic moment "with the debut of baseball at the Youth Olympic Games." This is an important step that we have been working towards for many years. “,” says Riccardo Fraccari, who is clearly looking further ahead. We are now counting down the days until Los Angeles 2028, when baseball and softball will return to the Olympic stage, and we are working hard to ensure our sport is included in Brisbane 2032. I am confident that baseball/softball will be a wonderful addition to the Brisbane 2032 sporting program. »
