OKLAHOMA CITY (September 15, 2024) — The USA Softball Men’s National Team (MNT) has arrived in Oklahoma City to compete in the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s World Cup Group C Stage Event, with the goal of securing a spot in the 2025 Finals. Team USA is set to face off against five other countries at the Softball Capital of the World® — including Colombia, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, and South Africa — for a chance to advance to the 2025 WBSC Men’s World Cup Finals in Prince Albert, Canada.
As one of 18 teams competing across three groups (A, B, and C), Team USA enters the event as the world-ranked No. 6 team, receiving an automatic bid to compete in Group C as the host nation. The competition will take place over five days, starting on Tuesday, September 17, with the top two teams from Group C advancing to the Finals. The playoff round will occur on Saturday, September 21, where the top four teams will vie for the two available spots in the 2025 Finals.
The U.S. squad will face the following teams:
- USA vs Colombia — Tuesday, September 17 at 7 p.m. CT
- USA vs Guatemala — Wednesday, September 18 at 4 p.m. CT
- USA vs Netherlands — Wednesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. CT
- USA vs Japan — Thursday, September 19 at 7 p.m. CT
- USA vs South Africa — Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. CT
The 2024 U.S. MNT roster features 12 returning athletes from the 2022 squad that secured a bronze medal at the WBSC Men’s World Cup, ending an 18-year medal drought. New additions include Jeff Lewis and Frank Kimlinger, as well as debutants Freddie Bradford and Marco Diaz. The team is composed of athletes from seven states, with Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri leading with three athletes each.
The tournament will be streamed via GameTime, offering fans the option of purchasing a Group Pass ($12.99) or Daily Pass ($7.99) for live access to the games. Fans can also follow the action via live stats on GameChanger. Though the event is free to attend, fans must reserve tickets in advance through Eventbrite.
Head coach Ron Hackett, who guided Team USA to their historic bronze medal finish in 2022, returns for his third stint as head coach. Alongside him are assistant coaches Roman Foore, Greg Hicks, and Gerald Muizelaar. Hackett expressed confidence in the team, noting that they are focused on qualifying for the 2025 World Cup Finals and are prepared to perform at their highest level.
“We have the utmost respect for all of the teams competing here in Group C,” Hackett said, “but we also have a high degree of confidence in our players and staff, and we expect to perform in that manner throughout the event.”