Schedule revealed for WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B: Hosts Canada against Hong Kong, China on opening day

With one month to go to the XVIII WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) unveiled today the 19-game schedule of the event, to be played from 10 to 14 July in Prince Albert, Canada. You can see the schedule here.

On 10 July, the top-ranked nation in the world Argentina will face No. 16 Israel in the tournament's opener, while hosts and No. 3 Canada will take on No. 24 Hong Kong, China. In Game 2, seven-time world champions and No. 10 New Zealand will open against No. 11 Singapore.

From 11 to 13 July, four games will be played every day to complete the Opening Round of the Group, with every team playing a double header.

A total of 18 teams have been split into three groups to open the XVIII WBSC Men's Softball World Cup, the first Men's Softball World Cup to be staged under the two-stage system. Group A will be played in Hermosillo, Mexico from 12 to 16 June while Group C will take place in Oklahoma City, USA from 17 to 21 September.

The top two teams in each group’s final standings will move to next year's Finals to be played also in Prince Albert, Canada.

Each group consists of a four-day, 15-game round robin with the top four teams advancing to playoffs on the final day where the top two sides in the standings will play each other with a ticket to the Finals at stake. The loser of the first play-off game will then play against the winner of the game between third and fourth, for the second spot in the Finals. 

The playoffs of Group B will be played on 14 July.