Taiwan secures hosting rights for 2027 World 12 Baseball Championship, 2028 Olympic qualifiers

Taiwan has secured the hosting rights for two major international baseball tournaments: the 2027 World 12 Baseball Championship preliminaries and finals, and the 2028 Olympic final qualifying tournament. The announcement was made by the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) at a press conference.

CTBA Chairman Jeffrey Koo expressed confidence that hosting these events in Taiwan will boost the national team's performance. He cited the team's victory in the previous World 12 Baseball Championship as evidence, attributing their success in part to the home-field advantage. "When games are held in Taiwan, with the fans as our backing, the chance of winning the championship is very high," Koo stated.

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From Taiwan winning the championship in the last 12-team competition, it can be proven that obtaining the hosting rights for the competition significantly increases Taiwan's chance of winning the championship.

Koo also explained the performance disparity between Taiwan's showings in the World 12 Baseball Championship and the World Baseball Classic. He noted that the World 12 Championship, held in November, allows players to compete while their professional baseball season is still active. In contrast, the World Baseball Classic in March occurs shortly after Taiwan's Lunar New Year, leaving players with less than two weeks for training before international competition.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, who attended the press conference, highlighted the World 12 Baseball Championship as a significant WBSC event. He mentioned that the 2027 tournament will expand from 12 to 16 teams. Fraccari acknowledged Taiwan's extensive experience in hosting international competitions and expressed anticipation for the Taiwanese team's performance in the upcoming championship.

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The World 12 Baseball Championship is an important event for the WBSC, and for the first time in 2027, it will expand from 12 to 16 teams.