(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
     Italy also confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026
Nederlands
...Italy also will be in Haarlem again...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
On Monday (Februay 2), the Organizing Committee of the Baseball Week Haarlem announced the fourth participant for this years 32nd edition of the biennial international tournament, which will be held June 26 through July 4.
After earlier announcements that Curaçao, Chinese Taipei and Japan again will be part of the wellknown event, it was now confirmed that Italy also will be back in Haarlem.
With Curaçao, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Italy four of the five foreign teams that will come to Haarlem are now confirmed.
The remaining team will be announced soon.
Of course, host Netherlands also will participate again, as it has done since the first edition in 1961.
The field-of-participants consists of six teams.
Italy comes to Haarlem for the eighth time and the fourth time in a row.
The team first participated in the Week almost 60 years.
Back then, in 1968, Italy finished in fourth and last place.
The team also participated in 1972.
It then took 28 years before returned to Haarlem.
In 2000, Italy finished in fifth place.
Four years later, Italy also was fifth.
Again, it took some years for Italy to be back in Haarlem.
After a 14-year absence, Italy participated again in the Week in 2018.
Once more, Italy finished in fifth place.
After the Week was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy was back in 2022 and 2024.
In both tournaments, Italy finished in sixth place.
In the confirmation of Italy on Monday, the following was announced:
The Italian national baseball team will once again be participating in Baseball Week Haarlem this year.
Italy and the Baseball Week are closely linked:
The Italians are present at the Pim Mulier Stadium in almost every edition.
The Italian team, known to baseball fans worldwide as the Azzurri, is currently ranked 14th in the WBSC Baseball World Ranking; an achievement that underscores Italy's status as one of the top teams in Europe.
In the summer of 2025, the Italians reached the final of the European Championship in Rotterdam, which was won by Team Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Historically, both the Dutch and Italian national teams are among the best baseball nations in Europe.
The head-to-head matches in Haarlem are therefore always an attractive venue for players, coaches, and supporters.
Tournament Director Peter Herkemij reacts enthusiastically to the Azzurri's return:
,,A true classic.
Italy has been a constant and familiar presence on the Baseball Week bill for decades.
Historically, Italy and the Netherlands are the leading baseball nations in Europe.
We warmly welcome Italy back to the Pim Mulier Stadium and are already looking forward to the always exciting encounter with our Kingdom team.''
(February 2)
Related Articles:
 Curaçao confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 21)
Chinese Taipei also confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 24)
Japan third team confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 29)
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