The Yoshitei Youth Summer Classic

From July 20 to 26, 2026, French baseball will live through a historic week. For the first time, France will host an official U15 international tournament bringing together some of the best nations on the planet. In Sénart, the Yoshitei Youth Summer Classic will be more than just a summer tournament: it will offer a true glimpse into the future of baseball.

A Historic First for France

The Grand Paris Sud Baseball Stadium (Sénart) will host an exceptional competition where five national teams will vie for the trophy: France, Japan, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

For a week, the young talents who will shape international baseball in the coming years will face off in a tournament rarely seen on French soil.

The format is simple and spectacular:

• July 20 to 24: round-robin group stage.
• July 25: semifinals.
• July 26: bronze medal match followed by the grand final.

A Tournament with a Legacy

This is the second edition of the Yoshitei Youth Summer Classic, but the first officially recognized. Organized by the Yoshitei association with the support of the FFBS, Grand Paris Sud, and 417 Feet, the event places young players in conditions worthy of the world’s greatest international competitions.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the tournament pays tribute to Mr. Yoshida, a major figure in Japanese baseball, who dedicated five years of his life to developing baseball in France. His work notably helped France establish itself among the best European nations in the 1990s. His relationship with Jamel Boutagra, the organizer of this tournament, is the hallmark of this event.

Professionalism, humility, and mentorship are the values that continue to inspire this tournament, a true bridge between generations.

The Teams to Watch

🇯🇵 Japan, the Overwhelming Favorite

World No. 1 in the WBSC rankings, Japan arrives in Sénart with its absolute reference status. Three-time winner of the World Baseball Classic, Olympic champion in Tokyo in 2020, and holder of 21 Asian titles, Samurai Japan also boasts one of the world’s best training programs.

Their presence in Europe is already an event. Their goal will be clear: assert their dominance before the U15 World Cup.

🇳🇱 Netherlands, the Continent’s Masters

Ranked 10th in the world, the Dutch remain the historic reference for European baseball with 25 European championship titles. Semifinalists in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and 2017, world champions in 2011, they rely on a formidable pool of talent from the Dutch Caribbean.

As always, Team Oranje will be among the main contenders for the title.

🇨🇿 Czech Republic, the Rising Force

Czech baseball continues its ascent. 16th in the world, the Czech Republic made an impression at the 2023 World Baseball Classic before winning a European bronze medal in 2025.

Fighting and spectacular, the Czechs arrive in Sénart aiming to confirm that they now count among the emerging great nations.

🇩🇪 Germany, a Team Never to Underestimate

Ranked 17th in the world, Germany has been making steady progress for several years. Solid on the European scene, they have the arguments to challenge the favorites and play the spoilers in this high-level competition.

🇫🇷 France, Eager to Shine at Home

21st in the WBSC rankings, the French team will have the immense privilege of playing in front of their home crowd. Coached by their new manager Félix Brown, the Bleuets will aim to find their way back to great European performances.

Inspired by Mr. Yoshida’s legacy and buoyed by the enthusiasm of the Sénart crowd, they will be eager to demonstrate the progress of French baseball against the world’s top schools. The French lineup is below.

The Must-See Event of the Summer

The Yoshitei Youth Summer Classic is set to be the major event of European youth baseball in 2026. Between the exceptional arrival of Japan, the presence of the best European nations, and the unique opportunity to discover the future stars of world baseball, all the ingredients are in place for a week of very high-level play.

In Sénart, it is perhaps the future internationals, professionals, and great figures of world baseball who will take to the field. One more reason not to miss this historic event, which once again testifies to the growing place of French baseball on the international stage.

Photo credits: Glenn Gervot

Instagram account of the association YOSHITEI