The 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games host nation will welcome an expanded version of the competition, which will grow to 12 participating nations in 2016 from this year's eight-team tournament due to take place in the Japanese city of Miyazaki on September 1 to 7.

The sport's world governing body has also awarded the 2016 editions of the Under-15 and Under-21 World Cups to Japan and Sinaloa, Mexico respectively.

The Under-15 event will feature 12 countries competing for the gold and means Japan will host a Baseball World Championship for three successive years, following next month's Women's Baseball World Cup and the 2015 Under-18 Baseball World Cup, which will be staged at the Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo.

Sinaloa recently hosted the Under 15 Baseball World Cup where Cuba were crowned world champions ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, the 2016 Under-21 World Cup will be only the second edition of the tournament following the inaugural event, which will take place in Taichung, Taiwan from November 7 to 16 this year.

"We are extremely delighted with these excellent bids that derive from key markets," Riccardo Fraccari, President of the WBSC, said.

"Continuing to attract high-quality hosts to successfully deliver and showcase our events is a key indicator of baseball and softball's global appeal and popularity, and of the lasting legacy and value returned to the hosts."

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