Yesterday, Wednesday 27 November, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) updated the ranking of world baseball taking into consideration the points accrued by the various programs at the end of the Premier12 2024won by China Taipei.
Il Japan“global” vice-champion, retains first position (6866 points) with a margin of 1368 points ahead of China Taipei (5498) which consolidates second place ahead of Venezuela (4846), which, by virtue of the fourth place achieved in the Premier12, achieved third place, which is its best result ever. It is the one who pays the price Mexico (4729), which drops two positions.
establish United States of America (4691), South Korea (4487) e Kingdom of the Netherlands (3949) – in fifth, sixth and seventh place respectively – while rising two positions Panama (3394) which surpasses Puerto Rico (3340) e Cuba (3096). They close the top-12 Dominican Republic (2745) e Australia (2476) which rises three positions at the expense of Colombia (13°, 2441), Italia (14°, 2214) e Czech Republic (15°, 2030).
The positions from 16th to 22nd occupied by Nicaragua, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, China, France and Canada are unchanged.
In the new WBSC/KONAMI ranking there are also two new entries, Sint Maarten (57th) and Cambodia (80th), and as many returns, Indonesia (70th) and Malaysia (77th).
With the conclusion of the 2024 Premier12, the race for the next edition begins, scheduled for 2027, and which includes two qualifying tournaments in 2026. The top 12 in the ranking at the end of 2025 will qualify directly for the group stage of 2027, while the nations from 13th to 18th place as well as two wild cards will participate in the qualifying tournaments to define the other four participants.
THE WBSC/KONAMI WORLD MEN’S BASEBALL RANKINGS
Photo: Game action from the Premier12 final between China Taipei and Japan. Credit: Ezio Ratti/WBSC
