WBSC Premier12 2024 format explained: group stage, super round, venues

The 2024 WBSC Premier12 is shaping up as a high-stakes showcase for international baseball, featuring the top 12 national teams in the WBSC World Rankings. The competition runs from November 10 to 24, following a delay from 2023 due to pandemic-related scheduling challenges. Japan, the reigning champion, will defend their title against fierce competition in a tournament spread across Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico.

The WBSC Premier12 participant nations are determined based on their standing in the WBSC World Rankings. The top 12 ranked national teams as of a specific cutoff date earn the right to compete in the tournament. These rankings are based on a cumulative performance system, reflecting results across WBSC-sanctioned international competitions over recent years. This system ensures that the Premier12 consistently showcases the strongest baseball nations, promoting fierce competition and high-quality play. For the 2024 edition, the rankings from December 2023 were used to finalize the participating teams.

Tournament Format Overview

The 2024 Premier12 opens with a 12-team round-robin “Opening Round,” split into two groups of six. Each team plays five games within their group, and only the top two from each group advance to the next stage - the “Super Round.” The Super Round shifts all qualified teams to Japan, specifically Tokyo, where a second round of round-robin matchups determines final standings. The top two teams here will square off for gold, while the third and fourth compete for the bronze.

Venues and Locations

Group A games are hosted in Mexico, split between Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, and the Santa Teresita stadium in Tepic, offering a blend of established and newer facilities for international baseball. Group B matches will play out in Asia, with games at the Nagoya Dome in Japan and Taipei City’s Taipei Dome, a state-of-the-art venue. Tokyo’s iconic Tokyo Dome hosts the Super Round and final matches.

Participating Teams and Group Assignments

The Premier12 lineup features top-ranked Japan, along with other elite teams like Mexico, the United States, and South Korea. Notably, Panama makes its debut, replacing Canada from the 2019 lineup. Group A includes teams like Mexico and the USA, while Group B, hosted in Japan and Taiwan, features powerhouses such as Japan and South Korea.

Key Dates to Remember

This year’s edition promises to bring a unique blend of tradition and new talent, with a clear emphasis on fostering top-tier international competition. The excitement of playing across continents, culminating in Japan, underscores how the WBSC aims to showcase baseball’s global appeal.