Three World Champions to collide in Group B as exciting WBSC Men's Softball World Cup continues in Prince Albert
After an enthralling Group A tournament in Hermosillo, Mexico, the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024/2025 is set to continue on Wednesday, with Group B of the competition taking place in Prince Albert, Canada.
World No. 1 Argentina, No. 3 Canada, No. 10 New Zealand, No. 11 Singapore, No. 16 Israel and No. 24 Hong Kong, China will be in action, chasing the two available tickets to next year's Finals, to be hosted in Prince Albert as well.
Group B includes three former World Champions with 12 of the previous 17 world titles to their name: Seven-time world champions New Zealand (1976, 1984, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2013 and 2017), four-time winners Canada (1972, 1976, 1992 and 2015) and 2019 champions Argentina.
Argentina
- MSWC Appearances: 11
- Highest finish: World Champion (2019)
- 2022 finish: 4th
- World Ranking: No. 1
The Argentina National Softball Team is currently the No. 1 in the WBSC/Konami Men's Softball World Ranking after recovering the top spot last April with their Pan American title. They arrive in Prince Albert as one of the top candidates to advance to the Finals next year, with 12 stars from the 2019 squad that won it all in Prague in their lineup.
The pitching staff will be commanded by Huemul Mata and Roman Godoy, two-time Junior Men's Softball World Champions and the two main arms in the pitching staff in the last few years.
Federico Eder and Manuel Godoy are the most experienced players in this team but with the retirement of Bruno Motroni, Nicolas Carril and Mariano Montero, younger players like Alan Peker, Teo Migliavacca and Juan Zara need to step forward and take a leadership role in the team.
They finished fourth in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022 after ending the Super Round tied in first place with Australia and Canada, being placed in the bronze medal game on the back the tie-break system. They lost the third-place game against USA, 2-0.
Canada
- MSWC Appearances: 17
- Highest finish: World Champion (1972, 1976, 1992 and 2015)
- 2022 finish: 2nd
- World Ranking: No. 3
In 2015, Canada claimed their first World Championship title in 23 years on home soil in Saskatoon. Since then, the four-time world champions have medalled four times in a row, including back-to-back bronzes in 2017 and 2019, and a silver medal at Auckland 2022. The hosts are one of four teams with perfect participation in this competition, along with Japan, New Zealand and USA.
Having already qualified for the Finals 2025 as the host team, head coach Mark Stuart selected a renovated roster for this event. With ace Sean Cleary not included for the Group Stage, Justin Schofield and Ty Sebastian might see the most innings in the circle for the Canadian team.
Brian Abrey and Mathieu Roy will lead the host team in Prince Albert. Abrey is a veteran catcher who has competed in five WBSC Men's Softball World Cups (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022), winning four medals - gold (2015), silver (2022) and bronze (2017 and 2019). Roy has been a presence in Canada's lineup for the last four World Cups, winning a medal every time.
Hong Kong, China
- MSWC Appearances: 5
- Highest finish: 10th (1972)
- 2022 finish: N/A
- World Ranking: No. 24
Hong Kong, China return to the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup after seven years. Their last appearance in the premiere international men's softball event was in Whitehorse 2017, the last time this event was played in Canada. They finished 14th on that occasion.
This will be Hong Kong's sixth participation in the competition, having never finished higher than 10th place. They finished 10th in 1972 in Manila, Philippines, in their first appearance in the World Cup. Since then, they have recorded a 15th place finish in Saskatoon 1988 and Christchurch 2004; and 14th in Manila 1992 and Whitehorse 2017, their last appearance in the competition.
Hong Kong, China finished fourth in the Asian Qualifier after winning their games against Chinese Taipei (7-0) and India (10-3) to make the playoffs, where they went onto lose to the Philippines, 7-0, in the bronze medal game.
Israel
- MSWC Appearances: 1
- Highest finish: 20th (1996)
- 2022 finish: N/A
- World Ranking: No. 16
Israel received a wild card to participate in the XVIII WBSC Men's Softball World Cup, after finishing in fifth place in the European qualifier 2023. They finished the tournament with a 4-4 record.
Their only appearance in the World Cup was in Midland 1996, where they finished in 20th position with 22 participating teams, posting a 1-9 record.
In total, this will be Israel's fifth participation in a Men's Softball World Cup, in any category. The have two participations in the U-18 World Cup and one participation in the inaugural edition of the U-23 World Cup last year.
Israel will take to Prince Albert a big portion of the U-23 Men's Softball World Cup roster which finished in 10th place in Argentina, collecting two wins in eight games.
New Zealand
- MSWC Appearances: 17
- Highest finish: World Champion (1976, 1984, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2013 and 2017)
- 2022 finish: 8th
- World Ranking: No. 10
With seven World Titles in 17 tournaments, New Zealand are the most decorated Men's National Softball Team in history. The won a medal in 13 of the first 15 World Cups, including 10 appearances in a row in the World Championship Final between 1984 and 2017, winning six titles and four silver medals. Their first-ever crown was in 1976, when they shared the title with Canada and USA because the playoffs were rained out.
However, the Black Sox failed to medal in the last two WBSC Men's Softball World Cups, marking the first time New Zealand didn't stand on the podium in back to back tournaments.
The Kiwis will look to bounce back after a disappointing eighth place in the 2022 World Cup, played in their own backyard, posting a 4-4 record. To do so, New Zealand named Thomas Makea as their new head coach, a living legend of the sport with more than 20 years of international play and four titles under his belt.
Singapore
- MSWC Appearances: 3
- Highest finish: 9th (1972)
- 2022 finish: N/A
- World Ranking: No. 11
Singapore aim to make a strong impression in their fourth participation in the competition. After finishing ninth in a 10-team tournament at Manila 1972, they ended in 15th place in 1992 and 2019. In 1972 they went 1-7 for the tournament, while 20 years later, also in Manila, they posted a 2-7 record. In 2019, they also collected two wins, against South Africa and the Philippines, both by the same 4-3 score.
They qualified for this World Cup as second place in the Asian qualifier, losing only against continental super power Japan, 2-0 in the Opening Round and 4-0 in the final. They collected victories over the Philippines, India, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China.
They played in the U-23 Men's Softball World Cup last year, going 2-6 to finish in 9th place, including a 6-1 win over Israel.