THE World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has unveiled the competing national teams, including the wildcard, and the opening-round groups for the 2019 Under-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan in Chinese Taipei.
The WBSC awarded Fiji the lone wildcard into the fifth edition of the event, marking the country’s first-ever entry.
The South Pacific nation will join the world’s best 11 youth baseball teams in competing for the title from July 26 to August 4.
They have been drawn into Group A along with hosts and under-12 Asian champions Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Cuba, top-ranked Japan and South Africa.
Three-time defending under-12 world champions the United States headline Group B which also features Australia, Italy, 2017 bronze medallists Mexico, South Korea and Venezuela.
The top three teams from each group will advance through to the super round from August 1 to 3.
