WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024 - Cuba beat Japan to claim second successive title

Defending champions Cuba claimed the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024 title and became world champions for the second time in succession after beating Japan 16-1, 7-5 in a riveting final with a great atmosphere at the Central Harbourfront Event Space in Hong Kong, China on Saturday.

A stellar performance from MVPs Briandy Molina and Haila Gonzalez set the defending champions on their way as Cuba successfully defended the title they won in Mexico City two years ago, when they also beat Japan.

Prior to the final, the most Japan have ever conceded in a set was nine. But Cuba quickly destroyed that stat as they blasted out of the gates, opening a 7-1 lead after the first inning before finishing with 16 for the set.

Cuba had won both games in Mexico in straight sets 9-1, 6-2 and proceeded to do the same again in Hong Kong, doing enough to claim the second set 7-5.

During the Super Round on Thursday, Japan took the first set off Cuba in World Cup history before Cuba won 2-3, 5-2, 3-0. But in the final, the world No. 2 was too slick, fast and coordinated against the world No. 5, powering home to remain the only side to have lifted the world championship trophy.

It is Cuba's 44th world champion title and continues their stranglehold on the Baseball5 World Cup titles having also claimed the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup last year in Türkiye.

"What I’m feeling now is very hard to describe in words, it’s a very mixed feeling," Briandy said. "Defending the title has required a lot of sacrifice because we’ve had to be extremely hardworking and disciplined every single day.

"For me it is a great satisfaction for the type of athlete that I am, that I always try to contribute as much as I can to my team to always achieve the victory," Briandy added.

Earlier in the day, France beat Venezuela 3-1, 7-2 in an intense bronze medal game to add to the silver medal they claimed at the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup last year.

World No. 13 Venezuela beat No. 4 France in the Super Round on Thursday 0-1, 5-3, 8-1 but the European vice-champions turned it around in a dominating performance under the Hong Kong sun.

"I’m very happy after this victory against the super team of Venezuela," star play Omar Diodene said. "We prepared mentally since yesterday and the result arrived. I’ve been working for this moment for six months and it allowed me to play well.

"Thank you to the other players and the staff for the confidence in me and the team and that helped us achieve our win."

Cuba's Briandy Molina and Haila Gonzalez were voted the MVPs of the tournament while the All World Team was made up of:
Yu-Ying Hsieh (TPE)
Harutomo Tsuji (JPN)
Omar Diodene (FRA)
Humberto Molina (VEN)
Yeismy Sanchez (MEX)

Cuba v Japan set for final showdown

Medal game participants confirmed

Super Round & Placement Round schedule announced

Cuba first team to book Super Round spot after riveting Day Two action

Defending champions Cuba led Pool A with two wins from as many games after the first day with France and Mexico unbeaten in Group B

Spectacular Opening Ceremony on the first day of competition

This is the second edition of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup after Mexico City 2022

Cuba are the defending champions, with Japan having finished second and Chinese Taipei third in 2022

There are 10 teams returning from Mexico City 2022. Australia and China had replaced Kenya and Korea

This the the first time a WBSC World Cup is staged in Hong Kong, China

Hosts Hong Kong finished 12th in Mexico two years ago

The next edition of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup will take place in Italy in 2026.

The next WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup will take place in Mexico in 2025.

The number of teams participating in the next editions of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup and WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup will increase from 12 to 16 teams.

Baseball5 will also feature at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026

The Japan Baseball Federation was also given the High5 award as the Social MVP for being the most active and effective on social media in promoting Baseball5 and the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024.

Key links

• Tournament Website
• Schedule/live scoring
• Live Streaming
• Live clips on X
• Videos
• Photos
• WBSC/KONAMI Baseball5 World Ranking