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FuzzyRussianHat · 02-24-2025, 01:09 PM

The 2026 World Baseball Championship was the 80^th edition and this time was hosted in Valencia, Spain; the first time hosted in Europe since 2005. In Division 1, Italy took the top spot at 10-1, fending off Australia (9-2) and Greece (8-3). It was the second division title in four years for the Italians and their 20^th overall. Italy has advanced more times than any other European country.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo earned their first-ever division title at 10-1 atop Division 2. Cameroon at 8-5 was their only close competitor. The United States finished 5-6, which was the first time ever that the Americans had posted a losing record in division play. It was only the 20^th time in 80 WBCs that the USA didn’t get to the elite eight. Last year’s world champion Spain was also a non-factor in D2 at 4-7.

Austria and Israel tied for Division 3 at 9-2 with the Austrians advancing via the head-to-head tiebreaker. It was the fifth division title for Austria and their third in a decade. France took Division 4 at 9-2, edging out Ukraine (8-3) and Bulgaria (7-4). The French got their second division title in three years and their 15^th overall.

Hungary secured a tight Division 5 at 8-3 for their first-ever division title. Right behind were India (7-4), Iran (7-4), Turkey (7-4), Nigeria (6-5), and Serbia (6-5). Division 6 had a three-way tie for first at 7-4 between Vietnam, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. Five were one back at 6-5 (Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania). The tiebreaker sent the Vietnamese forward and earned their third division title (1999, 2010, 2026).

Division 7 also had a first-time winner with 8-3 Tajikistan on top. Last year’s runner-up Brazil finished 7-4 as did Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Lastly in D8, Germany clobbered the field at 10-1 for their 14^th division title and second in three years. No teams from the 2025 elite eight made it back in 2026. With the Tajiks, Hungarians, and Congolese earning their first division titles in 2026, 83 unique nations have now advanced to the elite eight at least once.

The 2026 elite eight was also notable as the second without a single team from the Western Hemisphere (2012). The group had five from Europe, two from Asia, and one from Africa. Round Robin Group A had France first at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Austria. Vietnam and Italy both were ousted at 2-4. The French earned their second semifinal trip in three years and their sixth overall. The Austrians secured their third berth in the final four (2017, 2023).

The DR Congo topped Group B at 5-1, followed by both Hungary and Germany at 3-3 and Tajikistan at 1-5. The Hungarians advanced on the tiebreaker, sending two newcomers to the semifinal. With that, 50 countries now have earned a final four appearance over the history of the event.

Both newcomers were ousted in the semifinal, although both forced all five games. France survived Hungary and Austria outlasted the DR Congo. Officially, the Congolese finished third and the Hungarians were fourth. The French earned their second championship berth in three years. The Austrians became the 33^rd different nation to make it to the title.

Austria then became the 20^th different World Champion in event history, winning 4-2 to deny France a second title in three years. This continued the historic parity for the top spot with nine different world champs in nine years. It is also the third straight title for a European nation. Austria set a WBC team record with 53 doubles in their victory.

Tournament MVP was Austrian SS Ernst Scheuermann. The 28-year old four-time Gold Glove winner with Dublin posted 24 hits, 20 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, 15 RBI, 22 walks, 15 steals, .242/.395/.545 slash, 173 wRC+, and 1.4 WAR. The Austrians also had the Best Pitcher in Viktor Friedl, a journeyman closer signed with EBF’s Zaragoza for 2026. The 33-year old righty pitched 12 games with a 0.33 ERA over 27.1 innings, 7 saves, 2-0 record, 52 strikeouts, 14 walks, and 1.2 WAR.

Other notes: For the first time since 2016, zero no-hitters were pitched in the event. Below are the updated all-time tournament stats. 2026 was unique as the top nine nations all-time in team scoring each missed the elite eight. It was the first time ever that the round robin didn’t have at least one of the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and/or Russia.

02-24-2025, 01:09 PM	#2100
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,971	2026 World Baseball Championship The 2026 World Baseball Championship was the 80^th edition and this time was hosted in Valencia, Spain; the first time hosted in Europe since 2005. In Division 1, Italy took the top spot at 10-1, fending off Australia (9-2) and Greece (8-3). It was the second division title in four years for the Italians and their 20^th overall. Italy has advanced more times than any other European country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo earned their first-ever division title at 10-1 atop Division 2. Cameroon at 8-5 was their only close competitor. The United States finished 5-6, which was the first time ever that the Americans had posted a losing record in division play. It was only the 20^th time in 80 WBCs that the USA didn’t get to the elite eight. Last year’s world champion Spain was also a non-factor in D2 at 4-7. Austria and Israel tied for Division 3 at 9-2 with the Austrians advancing via the head-to-head tiebreaker. It was the fifth division title for Austria and their third in a decade. France took Division 4 at 9-2, edging out Ukraine (8-3) and Bulgaria (7-4). The French got their second division title in three years and their 15^th overall. Hungary secured a tight Division 5 at 8-3 for their first-ever division title. Right behind were India (7-4), Iran (7-4), Turkey (7-4), Nigeria (6-5), and Serbia (6-5). Division 6 had a three-way tie for first at 7-4 between Vietnam, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. Five were one back at 6-5 (Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania). The tiebreaker sent the Vietnamese forward and earned their third division title (1999, 2010, 2026). Division 7 also had a first-time winner with 8-3 Tajikistan on top. Last year’s runner-up Brazil finished 7-4 as did Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Lastly in D8, Germany clobbered the field at 10-1 for their 14^th division title and second in three years. No teams from the 2025 elite eight made it back in 2026. With the Tajiks, Hungarians, and Congolese earning their first division titles in 2026, 83 unique nations have now advanced to the elite eight at least once. The 2026 elite eight was also notable as the second without a single team from the Western Hemisphere (2012). The group had five from Europe, two from Asia, and one from Africa. Round Robin Group A had France first at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Austria. Vietnam and Italy both were ousted at 2-4. The French earned their second semifinal trip in three years and their sixth overall. The Austrians secured their third berth in the final four (2017, 2023). The DR Congo topped Group B at 5-1, followed by both Hungary and Germany at 3-3 and Tajikistan at 1-5. The Hungarians advanced on the tiebreaker, sending two newcomers to the semifinal. With that, 50 countries now have earned a final four appearance over the history of the event. Both newcomers were ousted in the semifinal, although both forced all five games. France survived Hungary and Austria outlasted the DR Congo. Officially, the Congolese finished third and the Hungarians were fourth. The French earned their second championship berth in three years. The Austrians became the 33^rd different nation to make it to the title. Austria then became the 20^th different World Champion in event history, winning 4-2 to deny France a second title in three years. This continued the historic parity for the top spot with nine different world champs in nine years. It is also the third straight title for a European nation. Austria set a WBC team record with 53 doubles in their victory. Tournament MVP was Austrian SS Ernst Scheuermann. The 28-year old four-time Gold Glove winner with Dublin posted 24 hits, 20 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, 15 RBI, 22 walks, 15 steals, .242/.395/.545 slash, 173 wRC+, and 1.4 WAR. The Austrians also had the Best Pitcher in Viktor Friedl, a journeyman closer signed with EBF’s Zaragoza for 2026. The 33-year old righty pitched 12 games with a 0.33 ERA over 27.1 innings, 7 saves, 2-0 record, 52 strikeouts, 14 walks, and 1.2 WAR. Other notes: For the first time since 2016, zero no-hitters were pitched in the event. Below are the updated all-time tournament stats. 2026 was unique as the top nine nations all-time in team scoring each missed the elite eight. It was the first time ever that the round robin didn’t have at least one of the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and/or Russia. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)