What is the Premier12?
The WBSC Premier12 is the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s own national-team championship, played every few years in November for the top nations in the WBSC world ranking, with professional players from NPB, the KBO, the CPBL and MLB organisations taking part. WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari calls it the flagship tournament of the confederation and one of the most prestigious in international baseball.[1] [3]
How does it work?
The first three editions took the twelve top-ranked nations through group play, a four-team Super Round and medal games. The 2027 edition grows to 16 teams and four stages: an Opening Round of four groups of four, one of them at the Taipei Dome on 8–12 November 2027; a Second Round of two groups of four on 13–15 November; a Super Round at the Tokyo Dome on 18–20 November; and medal games on 21 November. Twelve teams qualified on the ranking of 31 December 2025 — Japan, Chinese Taipei, the United States, Korea, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Netherlands, Cuba, Australia and the Dominican Republic — and four come through qualifiers in Barcelona on 9–11 October 2026 (Colombia, Italy, Germany, Spain) and Zhongshan, China, on 26–28 November (Nicaragua, Czechia, China, Great Britain). Two LA28 Olympic places are at stake.[2] [3]
Since when does it exist?
The inaugural tournament was played in Japan and Taiwan on 8–21 November 2015, Korea beating the United States 8–0 in the final with Kim Hyun-soo as MVP; Japan won the 2019 edition 5–3 over Korea before 44,960 at the Tokyo Dome, with Seiya Suzuki the MVP, in a tournament that also awarded Tokyo 2020 Olympic places; and Chinese Taipei beat Japan 4–0 in the 2024 final, with the United States taking bronze over Venezuela.[2] [4] [5] [6] [8]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Chinese Taipei | Final: 4–0 vs Japan — Tokyo Dome, 24 November 2024 (att. 41,827); United States bronze vs Venezuela |
| 2019 | Japan | Final: 5–3 vs Korea — Tokyo Dome, 17 November 2019 (att. 44,960); Mexico bronze vs United States; MVP Seiya Suzuki |
| 2015 | Korea | Final: 8–0 vs United States — Tokyo Dome, 21 November 2015; Japan bronze 11–1 vs Mexico; MVP Kim Hyun-soo |
Every edition of the Premier12.
Why does it matter?
The Premier12 is the WBSC’s own world championship, an Olympic qualifier and a sold-out Tokyo Dome event — 41,827 for the 2024 final. Chinese Taipei, the 2024 champion, should not be confused with China, whose new professional league, Chinese Professional Baseball, held its inaugural draft in Shenzhen in November 2025 and opened its first season in January 2026.[4] [7]
References
- WBSC — Premier12. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — Premier12 editions. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — Expanded WBSC Premier12 2027 unveils new format as road to Tokyo takes shape. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — Chen homers Chinese Taipei to WBSC Premier12 2024 title over Japan; USA claim bronze. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — 2024 Premier12 standings. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — Celebrating WBSC Premier12 2024: looking back at two magnificent Premier12 finals. Accessed September 2026.
- WBSC — Historical inaugural draft of Chinese Professional Baseball held in Shenzhen. Accessed September 2026.
- Wikipedia — 2015 WBSC Premier12 (background). Accessed September 2026.