WILLIAMSPORT – Curaçao has been granted direct entry to the 2026 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, the official Little League website announced on January 20, 2026. This milestone means the island’s Little League champions will advance straight to the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, without needing to compete in regional qualifying tournaments.
The decision, made by Little League International, was confirmed as part of an updated international rotation that also grants direct berths to Panama and established regions such as Australia, Canada, Mexico and Japan. These direct entries will form part of a 10-team international field slated to compete in the Little League Baseball® World Series from August 19–30, 2026.
Little League officials highlighted Curaçao’s deep baseball traditions and strong track record in international competition as key factors behind the decision. Since its first Little League World Series appearance in 1980, Curaçao has made 15 LLWS appearances, including a championship victory in 2004 and four runner-up finishes.
“As we continue to prepare for the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series, we are excited to welcome the Little League champions from Curaçao with direct entry,” said Little League President and CEO Patrick Wilson in the announcement. “Our goal is to expand this opportunity to countries where Little League is truly the fabric of communities… so that these children and teams can enjoy this experience.”
Direct entry removes the need for Curaçao to compete in regional qualifiers, giving the island’s youth baseball teams guaranteed participation on one of the sport’s biggest global stages. The change reflects Little League’s ongoing efforts to promote international engagement and foster youth sports development worldwide.
More details on the official schedule and related events will be released by Little League International in the coming months.