Miami (AFP) – The 2026 World Baseball Classic will grant two spots for American teams to the 2028 Los Angeles Games, in the return of the hot ball to the Olympic event after being absent in Paris 2024.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 12:01

The United States baseball and softball teams, for their part, will automatically qualify for the next tournaments as hosts, the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) reported this Monday.

"By combining elite global events with clear continental pathways, we ensure that the best baseball and softball teams from all regions have a clear opportunity to qualify for LA28," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Olympic competition will be made up of six countries, including the United States, and the Major Leagues (MLB) hope that their players can participate in the tournament, although their presence depends on an agreement with the players' association.

The event, which will be held at Dodger Stadium, coincides with the celebration of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which in the past has affected the presence of MLB players at the Olympics.

The 2026 World Classic, for its part, will be held from March 5 to 17 in the United States, Japan and Puerto Rico with the presence of twenty countries.

Juan Soto (Dominican Republic), Edwin Díaz (Puerto Rico) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (Venezuela) are some of the Major League figures who have confirmed their participation in the contest.

The two best American teams classified at the end of the tournament will obtain tickets to Los Angeles 2028, as stipulated by WBSC, which said it has the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 2027 Premier12, meanwhile, will distribute one place to an Asian team and another to an Oceanic or European team.

The remainder will be delivered in an event in which six Asian, African, European and Oceanic countries will participate, which will take place no later than March 2028.

The country with the best classification in the 2027 Women's World Cup will qualify for the Olympic softball tournament, also absent in Paris 2024.

Also three other nations participating in continental qualifiers and one more in a final tournament to be played no later than March 2028.

© 2026 AFP

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