OTTAWA- The World Baseball Softball Confederation announced today the schedule for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup that will take place in Osaka, Japan from August 28th-September 6th.
Canada will open the 12-team tournament against Chinese Taipei on August 28th before facing Korea, Italy, Cuba and South Africa in Group B round-robin action that concludes on September 1st.
Group A consists of host Japan, defending champion USA along with Mexico, Australia, Brazil and Czech Republic.
Following the round-robin, the top three seeds in each group will play three cross-over games with the top two records advancing to the gold medal game, while the third and fourth best records will play for bronze. The medal games are scheduled for September 6th at historic Koshien Stadium, home of the Hanshin Tigers and the prestigious Japanese High School Baseball Championship.
Canada earned a spot in the 2015 WBSC U-18 World Cup after winning a bronze medal at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in La Paz, Mexico last September. The United States and Cuba won gold and bronze, respectively to qualify, while Brazil finished fourth to earn the final spot reserved for the Americas.
Canada is coming off 7th place finish in 2013 when the event was known as the IBAF 18U World Cup. In 2012, Canada won silver at the event achieving its best result since winning the event in 1991 when it was played in Brandon, Manitoba.
Prior to the World Cup, Team Canada will hold a selection camp on Australia’s Gold Coast from August 15th – 27th where 20 players will be chosen to represent their country in Japan.
