Nairobi to Host WBSC Africa Continental Qualifiers After Landmark Festival

Joseph Wani (Pitcher, South Sudan) of the Samurai United lifts the Nairobi Baseball Community Series Championship Trophy alongside teammates from Kenya, Japan and Uganda during the 2nd Annual Nairobi Baseball Championship Festival at the Nairobi Field of Dreams at JKUAT in Juja.

Kenya has secured a major win for its sporting calendar with the announcement that Nairobi’s Field of Dreams will host the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Africa Continental Qualifiers later this year.

The qualifiers for Softball (Senior Women and U23 Men & Women) will take place from November 25–30, followed by Baseball (Men’s U15) matches from December 5–7. The selection marks a milestone in Kenya’s efforts to position itself as a regional hub for baseball and softball development.

This follows the success of the 2025 Nairobi Baseball Community Championship Festival held on September 13, which attracted more than 1,000 fans, 200 Little Leaguers, 50 volunteers, and numerous partners. Organized under the theme “Hitting Home Runs for Youth, Sports, and Education”, the festival combined championship games with cultural performances, a food and innovation market, VIP attendance, and community showcases.

Thom Wallace, co-founder of IfWeBuildIt.org, which collaborated with JKUAT to develop the multi-field complex, hailed the event as proof of Kenya’s growing sporting potential.

“This festival was about more than championship games—it showed what’s possible when communities, youth, and private partners rally behind a common purpose,” Wallace said. “From Nairobi’s first Little League championship to an international broadcast and the first nighttime home run contest under M-Kopa lights, we are building a foundation for sports and youth leadership across Africa.”

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns also praised the festival, likening it to an “American Saturday afternoon” and emphasizing that hosting the qualifiers will strengthen Kenya’s role in continental baseball development.

With the upcoming WBSC Africa events, Kenya is not only making history in global baseball and softball but also charting a new path for youth empowerment and sports excellence on the continent.