WBSC Announces Americas Qualifier Schedule

Team USA now knows its path to the Tokyo Olympics.

The World Baseball-Softball Confederation announced the schedule for the Americas Qualifier on Thursday morning. Team USA will play Nicaragua on May 31, the Dominican Republic on June 1 and Puerto Rico on June 2 in Group A play. All games will be played at 7 p.m. ET in West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Venezuela make up Group B.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round on June 4 and June 5. The team with the best record following the Super Round will be declared the winner and earn a berth to the Tokyo Olympics.

The second- and third-place teams will advance to the WBSC Final Qualifier in Taiwan, where the winner will earn the last of the six spots in the Olympics. Japan, South Korea, Israel and Mexico have already qualified for the Tokyo Games.

Team USA is ranked No. 2 in the world by WBSC and is the top-ranked team in the Americas Qualifier. The U.S. lost to Mexico in the bronze-medal game at WBSC Premier12 in November 2019 to miss out on its first chance to qualify for the Olympics. The Americas Qualifier represents its second opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

The highest-ranked teams after Team USA are No. 7 Cuba and No. 8 Venezuela. Only non-40-man roster players are allowed to participate in the qualifier. 

2021 AMERICAS QUALIFIER SCHEDULE

All times EST

Monday, May 31

At Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic, 1 p.m.
United States vs. Nicaragua, 7 p.m.

At Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Venezuela vs. Cuba, 1 p.m.
Colombia vs. Canada, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 1

At Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
Colombia vs. Venezuela, 1 p.m.
Canada vs. Cuba, 7 p.m.

At Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico, 1 p.m.
United States vs. Dominican Republic, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 2

At Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, 1 p.m.
United States vs. Puerto Rico , 7 p.m.

At Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Canada vs. Venezuela, 1 p.m.
Cuba vs. Colombia, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 3

Off day

Friday, June 4

Group A winner vs. Group B second place, TBD
Group B winner vs. Group A second place, TBD

Saturday, June 5

Group A winner vs. Group B winner, TBD
Group A second place vs. Group B second place, TBD