International Competition Strategy

Baseball Ireland

International Competition Strategy

Baseball Ireland is recognized as the National Governing Body of baseball in Ireland by the World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe (WBSC Europe) and the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) and their parent bodies. It is the only body authorized to enter teams representing Ireland into:

WBSC sanctioned Baseball Tournaments and Championships,
The Olympics and
The World Baseball Classic competition

Ireland views international competition as important to the development of its player base and growth in the game in Ireland. This note documents Baseball Ireland’s strategy with respect to international competition.

WBSC Sanctioned Events

Baseball Ireland currently enters teams in the U18 and Senior European Baseball Championship qualifying tournaments. These tournaments occur in alternating years.

Ireland has chosen to focus its efforts on these two tournaments. It will consider entering other age and gender categories as it feels that it has sufficient resources and capabilities to compete in these other age categories.

WBSC Europe also sanctions a series of international club tournaments. If a Baseball Ireland member club team qualifies for a sanctioned tournament and wishes to enter, Baseball Ireland will enter them into the tournament.

Baseball Ireland will consider the merits of entering other WBSC Europe sanctioned events as they developed.

The Olympics

Ireland’s path road to Olympic qualification is via the WBSC European Baseball Championship. By entering the 2026 WBSC Europe Baseball Championship Qualifier, Ireland is competing to qualify for the Olympics.

The World Baseball Classic

Entry into the World Baseball Classic qualifying process is by invitation from MLB and WBSC. Considerations for selection include size and breadth of programs as well as results in international competition.

As Ireland is currently ranked 65^th in the world, we did not get invited to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifying tournaments.

Given Ireland’s limited scope for international competition, Ireland is not expected to be considered for the qualifying tournaments for the 2029 WBC.