Get ready for bigger and better baseball action! The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has announced a meaningful expansion of it’s prestigious Premier12 tournament, set to dramatically increase its global reach and competitive intensity.
WBSC President Riccardo fraccari, in his year-end message, declared the recent Premier12 tournament a resounding success, citing increased fan engagement and entertainment value. He revealed plans to expand the flagship event to 20 teams in 2027. This expansion follows the successful conclusion of the 2024 Premier12, which Fraccari described as “a tremendous success,” noting the eager support from fans across various locations, from Guadalajara and Tepic to Taipei City, Nagoya, and Tokyo. @WBSCPresident
The expansion will introduce a new qualifying format. The top 12 teams in the world rankings as of December 31, 2025, will automatically qualify for the main tournament. However, the remaining spots will be fiercely contested.Teams ranked 13th through 20th, along with two wild-card entries, will battle it out in a qualifying round. This round will feature two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the main event. The resulting 16-team main tournament will then be divided into four groups, setting the stage for an even more exciting competition.
Fraccari highlighted the importance of this expansion, stating that the Premier12 has already “changed the international baseball landscape.” He believes that this expansion will further boost the sport’s global growth by providing more nations with the chance to compete at the highest level. The increased participation will undoubtedly lead to a more diverse and exciting tournament, mirroring the growth and popularity of baseball in the United States and around the world.
The 2027 Premier12 expansion comes just one year before baseball returns to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, adding even more anticipation and excitement to the future of international baseball. The increased competition and global exposure promise to elevate the sport’s profile even further.
🤩 Exciting news alert!
🏆⚾️ Premier12 to expand to 16 teams in 2027 highlighting success of WBSC’s flagship event#Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/YSC5UClCym— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) October 24, 2024
World Baseball’s Premier12 Expanded: A Q&A with Baseball Analyst Bob Miller
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The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) recently announced a major expansion of its flagship Premier12 tournament. Ranked among the most competitive international baseball competitions, the Premier12 will expand from its current 12 teams to an exciting 16 teams in 2027. this expansion is seen as a crucial step in elevating the sport’s global profile and fueling further growth. To break down this development, we spoke with renowned baseball analyst Bob Miller.
Expanding the International Playing Field:
Senior Editor: Bob, this is big news for international baseball. What do you see as the main driving forces behind this expansion of the Premier12?
Bob Miller: The Premier12 has quickly established itself as the premier international baseball tournament.The WBSC recognizes its potential to drive global engagement with the sport.Expanding to 16 teams allows more nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level, which in turn, brings in new fans and builds excitement around the world.
A New Path to the Premier Stage
Senior Editor: The article mentioned a new qualifying format. Can you walk us through how this will work?
Bob Miller: Absolutely. The top 12 teams in the WBSC rankings as of December 2025 will automatically qualify for the main tournament. That leaves four spots up for grabs.Teams ranked 13th through 20th, plus two wildcard entries, will battle it out in two qualifying round groups. The top two teams from each group advance to the main event,making for a very intense and competitive qualifying process.
Growing the Sport Globally
Senior Editor: Beyond just expanding the tournament size, what are the broader implications of this forward-thinking move?
Bob Miller: The WBSC is actively fostering the global growth of baseball. This expansion will undoubtedly make the Premier12 even more exciting and diverse. More nations competing at this level means more young athletes around the world inspired to play. It also creates more opportunities for countries to develop their baseball programs, leading to a healthier and more competitive global baseball landscape.
Senior Editor: With baseball returning to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the timing of this Premier12 expansion is quite engaging.
Bob Miller: It’s perfect timing. This expansion is building momentum for baseball’s return to the Olympic stage. A more robust and inclusive Premier12 will only serve to enhance the excitement around Olympic baseball.
