With the 2026 Little League® season officially underway, Little League International has announced the international regions that will be receiving direct entry to 2026 Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS), Presented by T-Mobile.
“As we continue to prepare for the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series, especially surrounding the international travel logistics for our teams, we are excited to welcome the Little League Champions from Panama and Curaçao with direct entries from our Latin America Region to the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series,” said Patrick Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “As the Little League International Tournament Committee consistently evaluates all aspects of the tournament experience, our goal is to continue to expand that World Series opportunity to as many countries with passionate Little League programs, evaluating more than just number of Little League programs within a country, but where Little League is truly the fabric of communities, as we determine the direct entries and region alignment of our tournaments.”
Curaçao has had a long-standing commitment to the Little League program, both at the grassroots and tournament level. With 15 LLBWS appearances dating back to 1980, four runner-up finishes, and a championship win in 2004, their program continues to grow, and this opportunity will continue to offer their program the ability to further enhance access for children across their nation.
“The Little League World Series has served as a role model of diplomacy for decades and is a place where kids from all different cultures connect on the fields while building lasting friendships and bonds off the fields,” said Wilson. “We look forward to providing Curaçao that opportunity this summer and are grateful for the support that is provided to not only our organization, but more importantly to these children and teams, so that they can enjoy this experience.”
With this decision, Curaçao and Panama will join as the following regions receiving direct entry to the 2026 LLBWS as part of the international rotation – Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan – as well as the Region Champions from Asia-Pacific, Caribbean, Europe and Africa, and Latin America, making up the field of 10 international teams competing in the event. The 2026 LLBWS is slated to take place on August 19-30, 2026. More information about all of the World Series events, including the schedule and official websites, will be made available in March at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.