The WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024 will feature a revised Opening Day time, as confirmed by the WBSC and the organizing committee

Cuba emerged victorious in Mexico City in 2022 to claim the world title. (Photo: WBSC)

The new time for the Opening Ceremony of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024, as well as a revised schedule for Games 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the global tournament, were jointly announced by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the organizing committee of the host city, Hong Kong.

The Opening Ceremony, initially planned for 7:00 pm (local time) on October 7, has been rescheduled to 6:00 pm. The key match of the day featuring hosts Hong Kong and South Africa will now kick off at 7:30 pm. The start times of the other afternoon games have been brought forward by 30 minutes. The morning games on the Opening Day agenda are unaffected and will proceed as scheduled.

The adjustment was done to make sure that important dignitaries and VIPs can attend the Opening Ceremony of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong, China from October 7 to 12. Cuba, the current titleholder, will be among the 12 teams split into two groups for the initial phase, with each team playing five games.

Group A: Cuba, Chinese Taipei, Venezuela, Hong Kong, South Africa and Lithuania

Group B: Japan, France, Tunisia, Mexico, China and Australia

The top three teams in every group will progress straight to the Super Round, while the other six teams will proceed to the Position Round to decide the remaining positions in the final rankings.

The Super Round, scheduled for October 10 and 11, will decide the top two teams vying for the Baseball5 World Championship title on October 12.

Last week, Cuba revealed its lineup for the competition, featuring a team largely composed of the squad that clinched the top spot at the Baseball5 Pan American Games. The roster also boasts five world champions, including Briandy Molina, who was named MVP at the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup, along with Orlando Amador, Cristian Basabe, Chakira Aspiazú, and Lietis Arcia.

Also appearing in the roster are the MVP of the Pan American tournament, Haila González, along with Yoel Blanco, who also helped Cuba win the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2023.

The manager will once again be Pablo Terry along with his assistant Liorvis Savón. Both led Cuba to the title of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2022.

Eros Bernal, technical head of Baseball5 in Cuba, will be the head of the delegation.