Baseball

The WBSC men’s baseball world rankings weigh a country’s entire national team programme from under-12 to professional in international competition.

The rankings reflect a four-year cycle and a data set of more than 1,000 international contests.

A listing in rank order of its Member Associations was first published in January 2009, providing a basis for comparison of the relative strengths of the teams. 

Beginning in 2015, the rankings also determine which 12 teams participate in the WBSC Premier12 tournament.

The men’s baseball world ranking points methodology can be accessed by clicking here. 

The women’s baseball world ranking points methodology can be accessed by clicking here.

The initial women's baseball rankings were based upon results from past Women's Baseball World Cups. 

While the calculations of the women's rankings are similar to that of the men's, one main difference is that they are inclusive of the three most recent World Cups whereas the men's rankings only include the last two. 

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Softball

The overall ranking is based by gender, with 80 per cent of the points being awarded to the Senior World Championship ranking, and 20 per cent being awarded to the Junior World Championship ranking.

In order to operationalise these parameters, the format sees points allocated directly by finish. 

Softball world ranking points methodology can be accessed by clicking here. 

The first place team at an event is given the number of points equal to the number of teams in the World Championships, to a maximum of 16 points and multiplied by 100. 

In the case of an event with 16, or more teams, the first place team receives 1,600 points, second place 1,500 points all the way down to 16th place which receives 100 points. 

In the case of an event with less than 16 teams, the maximum number of points available is equal to the number of teams competing.

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Baseball5

In January 2023, the World Baseball Softball Confederation launched the first ever rankings for baseball5. 

The rankings system tracks the performance of a country's national team in the Baseball5 World Cups, including youth and top-tier levels, and continental events over a four-year period.

The Baseball5 World Cup provides a maximum of 1,200 points, including a 180-point bonus to the winner, with a minimum of 120 points. 

The Youth Baseball5 World Cup will guarantee a maximum of 900 points, plus a 100-point bonus to the winner, with a minimum of 90 points.

Other events which will count include the Youth Olympic Games.