Haarlem Honkbalweek is set to return this summer in the Netherlands.
Japan, the defending champion, will once again participate. The tournament, originally held in 1961, has been staged every other year since 1972, except for 2020, when it was canceled because of COVID-19. The United States is the all-time leader with 14 gold medals and 34 medals overall, but has elected not to participate in the 2026 edition. The host nation has won five gold medals and is second with 22 total medals.
The field is set, with Japan, Chinese Taipei and Italy returning from the 2024 edition to join the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curaçao, which played in the 2022 edition, will return in 2026. The Dominican Republic rounds out the field. It will mark the first time the Dominican Republic has sent a team to Haarlem to compete in the longest-running European national team baseball competition.
Haarlem Honkbalweek has a long tradition, and several future Major League Baseball All-Stars have played in the event, including MVP and Cy Young Award winners, as well as players who went on to superstardom in Nippon Professional Baseball. A notable roster was the United States’ 2022 team, which featured future National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, shortstop Jacob Wilson, catcher Kyle Teel and outfielders Dylan Crews and Wyatt Langford. In 2018, Japan sent a team headlined by future Eiji Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh and future NPB star Teruaki Sato.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 26-July 4 at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands. Japan defeated the United States in the gold medal game in 2024.
Full Schedule
June 26
Italy vs. Japan
Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
June 27
Curaçao vs. Chinese Taipei
Dominican Republic vs. Japan
Italy vs. Netherlands
June 28
Dominican Republic vs. Italy
Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands
Japan vs. Curaçao
June 29
Chinese Taipei vs. Japan
Curaçao vs. Italy
June 30
Dominican Republic vs. Chinese Taipei
Netherlands vs. Curaçao
July 1
Italy vs. Chinese Taipei
Curaçao vs. Dominican Republic
Japan vs. Netherlands
July 2
Playoff round
July 3
Playoff round
July 4
Championship Game
Photo: Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands.
