WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025: Non-Super Round Teams Showcase Achievements Amidst the Competition

The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025, presented by RAXUS, brought together the world’s top young baseball talents in a thrilling tournament that featured 50 high-caliber games. The USA emerged as champions in a competitive event where no team went undefeated, underscoring the tournament’s intense level of play.

While much of the spotlight naturally falls on the top teams advancing to the Super Round, several teams finishing between seventh and twelfth place also showed promising signs and reasons to celebrate their efforts:

Cuba – 7th Place
Although Cuba is no longer the dominant force it once was, their 5-3 record demonstrates they performed better than their final standing suggests. Cuba struggled offensively against the tournament’s strongest teams—scoring zero runs against Japan, Puerto Rico, and Korea—but their pitching remained impressive. Allowing just seven runs combined in those games, they posted a collective 1.06 ERA and held opponents to a .192 batting average, proving that pitching remains a core strength for the Cuban squad.

Australia – 8th Place
Once a regular in the Super Round, Australia missed out for the third consecutive U-18 World Cup. Unlike Cuba, Australia excelled offensively, posting the tournament’s highest batting average, but faltered on the mound. They came within one critical win of making the Super Round, and their powerful bats suggest they’ll be a formidable contender in future tournaments.

Italy – 9th Place
Italy struggled with pitching, finishing with a team ERA of 3.90, but their standout moment came in a tightly contested game against Japan. Facing the hosts, reigning champions, and tournament favorites in a packed stadium, Italy showcased strong pitching and exceptional defense. This performance showed they can compete with elite teams, and if they maintain this consistency, Italy’s baseball story could soon change dramatically.

Germany – 10th Place
One of the tournament’s most compelling stories came from Germany, who narrowly missed the Super Round after a hard-fought battle with powerhouse Chinese Taipei, the eventual bronze medalists. Germany proved they can stand up to top-tier competition and perform under pressure with a well-rounded and entertaining team.

China – 11th Place
The future hosts of the next U-18 World Cup earned a valuable win against Japan, a significant milestone for their developing program. Their victory over South Africa and a close loss to Italy indicate that China is making steady progress and is ready to grow further on the international stage.

South Africa – 12th Place
South Africa wrapped up their tournament with a morale-boosting victory over Germany. Their competitive games against European squads—including a narrow loss to Italy and their final win—were the highlights of their campaign and a sign of potential for the future.