The Red Hawks, our national baseball team, can complete the group stage of the European Championship in their home country in September next year. The European Union nominated Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy as an emergency solution to organize the 2025 European Championship. The European Championship was planned to be held in Israel, but the organization was canceled due to the war.
This is the first time that WBSC-Europe will host the European Championships in 3 countries. Groups A and B are played in Rotterdam, group C in Milan and group D in Borgerhout.
Belgian federal president Ludo Peters is very satisfied. Belgium last hosted a true European championship since 1967. “Since Israel is missing and the Netherlands can only occupy half of it, WBSC-Europe asked us to find a solution.”
“As Belgium, we couldn’t miss the opportunity. It is not possible for our country, Belgium, to host the entire European Championship because we don’t have the resources. But it is a golden opportunity and we must dare to seize it.” some risks. It went well.”
After the group stage, the 12 best European national teams will travel to Rotterdam for the final stage. Placement competitions concluded in Borgerhout.
Euro 2025 and LA 2028
Yannick Gontier, president of the Borgerhout Squirrels, is enthusiastic: “It is very good for our club to host the European championships at home.” The Squirrels already have some experience in organizing top European tournaments.
Sven Hendricks, former Belgian player and coach and current coach of the Red Hawks, outlines the historical nature: “It has been 2011 since the Red Hawks played in an official European tournament in Belgium. This will be huge exposure for our sport and players.”
Belgium takes the 2025 European Championships as its starting point and then proceeds full steam ahead towards qualification for the Olympic Games. After all, baseball and softball will return to the Los Angeles 2028 schedule.
