The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the global governing body for baseball, softball, and Baseball5, overseeing international competitions and development.
Baseball:
Softball:
Baseball5:
Baseball and Softball:
There are five continental associations affiliated with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). These associations are responsible for organising continental championships, providing support for their member federations, and representing their interests at WBSC Board meetings:
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the international governing body for baseball, softball, and Baseball5. Headquartered in Pully, Switzerland, near Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, the WBSC oversees these sports' administration, promotion, and development globally. Established in 2013 through the merger of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the International Softball Federation (ISF), the WBSC represents a unified movement with over 211 National Federation and Associate Members in 139 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
The WBSC governs all international competitions involving national teams. These include the Premier12, the World Baseball Classic, Baseball World Cups (U-12, U-15, U-18, U-23, and Women's), and Softball World Cups (U-12 Mixed, U-15 Women’s, U-18 Women’s, U-18 Men’s, U-23 Men’s, Women’s, and Men’s). It also oversees the official Baseball5 events (Senior and Youth World Cups) and eSports. Baseball and softball are featured in the Olympic Games, with the WBSC managing events for these sports during the Games.
The WBSC plays a key role in the global governance of baseball and softball, managing the rules and regulations of competitions and providing leadership for the sports. The WBSC also actively promotes the development of baseball and softball through initiatives such as grassroots programmes, the WBSC Legacy Club, and the sport's expansion into new territories.
The WBSC has set nine strategic goals for the 2022-2028 period, aligned with the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020+5. These goals aim to enhance the growth of the sport globally, particularly in underserved regions, and focus on areas such as governance, inclusion, and sustainability. The organisation’s roadmap includes 73 sub-goals and 436 key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and guide its development strategies.
