A major milestone for regional sport was achieved with the official founding of the Mediterranean.

Baseball Softball Union (MBSU) during its inaugural Congress, hosted by the Malta Baseball and Softball Association in Mellieħa, Malta, alongside the WBSC Europe Congress 2026 at the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands.

The launch of the MBSU comes at a pivotal moment, with Baseball5 set to feature at the Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026 (27 July – 2 August). The new Union will unite Mediterranean nations by coordinating competitions, development programmes, and representation at multisport events such as the European Games.

A New Competitive Pathway for Malta

While Malta proudly hosted the founding Congress, the creation of the MBSU represents a significant opportunity for the Malta Baseball and Softball Association. Membership in the Union opens additional competitive and development pathways for Maltese national teams to:

• Compete more regularly in Mediterranean-level tournaments
• Gain exposure against a wider range of international opponents
• Strengthen player development through higher-level competition
• Increase Malta’s visibility within the international baseball and softball community

For a developing federation, every new international platform matters. The MBSU creates another stage where Malta can perform, grow, and showcase its talent beyond traditional European competitions.

Strong Regional Commitment

Ten of the 13 European Mediterranean federations attended the founding Congress, underlining a shared commitment to growing baseball and softball across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Inaugural MBSU Leadership

• President: Kostis Liarommatis (Greece)
• Vice President: Elliot Fleys (France)
• Secretary General: Jordi Valles (Spain)
• Treasurer: Nahit Şahin (Türkiye)
• Member at Large – Africa: Saber Jlajla (Tunisia)

• Member at Large – Asia: Syria (allocation confirmed)
• Member at Large – Europe: Petra Cizmic Pocrajack (Croatia)
• Host Country Representative (Mediterranean Games): Marco Mazzieri (Italy)

Governance Milestone

The Congress approved the first MBSU Statutes, formally establishing the governance framework for the Union’s operations and future growth.

This launch represents more than the creation of a new organisation; it is a united commitment to elevate baseball and softball across the Mediterranean region, strengthen cooperation between nations, and create new international opportunities for emerging federations such as Malta.