Curaçao secured the international championship at the 2026 Little League World Series on Saturday, August 29, defeating Japan 4-0 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The team now moves on to face the United States champion in Sunday’s final game.
Curaçao Blanks Japan Behind Strong Pitching
Represented by Pariba Little League from Willemstad, Curaçao broke open a scoreless game in the third inning by driving in three runs, according to reporting by USA Today. They added an insurance run in the fourth inning to establish a comfortable four-run cushion.
Pitcher Jaymiëll Martina closed out the game by retiring Japan’s final three batters in the top of the sixth inning, USA Today reported. Curaçao finished with four runs on four hits without committing an error, while Japan was held to two hits and three errors across six innings.
How did Curaçao reach the international final?
The international bracket began with ten regional teams from around the world competing for a spot in the title match. Curaçao maintained a strong run throughout the tournament, ultimately beating Japan twice, including Saturday’s bracket final, as noted by USA Today.
Japan was represented in the 2026 tournament by Joto Little League out of Tokyo. Other international entries included regional champions such as West Seoul Little League from South Korea, Ryde Little League from Australia, Little Mountain Little League from Canada, Los Nacionales Little League from the Dominican Republic, South Czech Republic Little League from Czechia, Ministerio Sobre Las Alas Del Aguila Little League from Nicaragua, Municipal De Tijuana Little League from Mexico, and David Doleguita Little League from Panama.
Who plays in the United States championship game?
Following the international final, the United States bracket title match was set between the Mountain Region champion and the Great Lakes Region champion. USA Today reported that Paseo Verde Little League from Henderson, Nevada, took on West Side Little League from Hamilton, Ohio, to decide the American representative at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The U.S. side of the tournament originally featured ten regional teams representing communities across the country. The field included Bayonne Central Little League from New Jersey, East Side Little League from Pennsylvania, Davenport Northwest Little League from Iowa, Bridgewater Joe Lazaro Little League from Massachusetts, Soundview Little League from Washington, Phenix City Youth Baseball Little League from Alabama, Boerne Little League from Texas, and Sweetwater Valley Little League from California.
The winner of the Mountain versus Great Lakes matchup advances directly to face Curaçao for the overall 2026 Little League World Series title on Sunday, August 30.
What changes in practice for fans and viewers?
For baseball fans planning to watch the final games, broadcast schedules are locked in across major networks. The championship schedule concludes on Sunday, August 30, with national coverage bringing the tournament to a close.
Viewers can watch the final broadcasts live on ABC or stream the coverage through subscription services like Fubo, according to game listings published by USA Today. Local broadcast times remain subject to standard network programming schedules in each region.
Where is the tournament held and how to find updates?
The entire international tournament takes place annually at the iconic Little League complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, featuring matchups at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium.
Families, local leagues, and fans seeking verified tournament results, full official brackets, team statistics, and future competition rules can access resources on the official Little League International portal at littleleague.org. Tournament updates and official news releases are published directly by the organization throughout the event.
Foto: Portal Noticias 24h
