CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today announced Visit Raleigh as the official presenting sponsor of the USA eBaseball™ Finals and WBSC eBaseball™ Series 2026 World Finals, set for November 13-15 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
USA Baseball will host the fourth annual WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals at North Carolina State University’s Gaming and Esports Lab, where the world’s top eBaseball™: PRO SPIRIT players will vie for a world title. This marks the fourth consecutive year USA Baseball has hosted the USA eBaseball™ Finals and second straight time its hosted the WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals.
eBaseball™ has been at the forefront of several premier events, including the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021, Olympic Esports Series in 2023, and ePremier12 in 2024. Additionally, the 2026 competition will mark the first time that eBaseball™: PRO SPIRIT, a free-to-play baseball video game developed by Konami Digital Entertainment, will be played at the WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals.
“We are excited to announce Visit Raleigh as the presenting sponsor for the second consecutive year of the USA eBaseball™ Finals and WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals,” said Senior Director of Technology Russell Hartford. “This is a tremendous opportunity for everyone involved, as Visit Raleigh does an exceptional job at connecting the greater Raleigh community while showcasing local events to an international audience. The continued partnership demonstrates the profound growth and appeal of esports. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this event, as well as the players and fans, for what should be a great weekend in Raleigh.”
“Visit Raleigh’s continued support gives the WBSC eBaseball™ Series World Finals a strong home for its players and fans,” said WBSC CEO Michael Schmidt. “Together with USA Baseball, we look forward to welcoming competitors from around the world to Raleigh this November. With KONAMI’s eBaseball™: PRO SPIRIT making its World Finals debut, this year’s event offers an exciting new stage for the global eBaseball community.”
“Building on the success of last year’s tournament, Visit Raleigh is proud to continue our partnership with USA Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation,” said Loren Gold, Executive Vice President of Visit Raleigh. “Raleigh has firmly established itself as a hub for international esports competition. Hosting the world’s best players at NC State’s state-of-the-art facility for a second straight year underscores our region's dedication to growing competitive video gaming and delivering a world-class environment for athletes and fans alike.”
As the presenting sponsor, Visit Raleigh will play a vital role in expanding the event’s reach and enhance the experience for both players and spectators. Furthermore, the partnership also reinforces a shared commitment to growing esports and showcasing the greater Raleigh area as a destination for major events.
Last year’s event generated significant viewership, with the three-day broadcast garnering more than 25,000 views, alongside strong in-person attendance. Additionally, social media coverage drew more than 326,000 views on Instagram and 75,000 views on X.
Across three days of competition, 12 players will compete at North Carolina State’s state-of-the-art esports lab for the title of world champion. On Friday, November 13, the USA Finals will take place and will qualify both the champion and runner-up for the WBSC eBaseball™ Series 2026 World Finals. The World Finals starts with group play on Saturday, while Sunday features bracket play and the gold-medal match. For more information on the event, visit WBSC eBaseball™ Series Space on Challengermode.
Starting with the 2026 season, the WBSC has also introduced a global Sanctioning System, allowing organizers worldwide to host official WBSC-sanctioned tournaments where players can compete, earn points towards the WBSC eBaseball™ Global Ranking, and progress along the global competitive pathway.
“eBaseball” and “eBASEBALL” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries or regions.
