The 64 are set.
Selection Sunday for softball (Sunday, May 17, 2026) and Selection Monday for baseball (Monday, May 25, 2026). Sixty-four teams. Sixteen regional sites. Eight national seeds. We'll update the bracket below in real time.
WCWS Path
Bracket announced Sunday, May 17, 2026. Regionals May 22-25. Super regionals May 26-28. WCWS opens May 28 in Oklahoma City.
WCWS bracket page →CWS Path
Bracket announced Monday, May 25, 2026. Regionals May 29 - Jun 1. Super regionals Jun 5-7. CWS opens Jun 12 in Omaha.
CWS bracket page →How the committee picks the 64
Thirty-one teams earn automatic bids by winning their conference tournament. The remaining 33 spots are at-large selections. The selection committee weighs RPI, quality wins (top-25 and top-50), conference record, strength of schedule, and head-to-head results.
Of the 64, the top 16 receive national seeds. National seeds host their regional and the matching super regional. Mid-week regional sites are announced before the full bracket; the bracket itself sets pairings and determines which #2-#4 seeds travel where.
Watch the show live
Both selection shows broadcast live on ESPN and stream on the ESPN app and ESPN+. Show length is typically 60-90 minutes. The bracket is unveiled in segments — regional sites first, then the field 16-team chunks at a time.
We update this page as selections are announced. Refresh during the show for the latest bracket state.
What happens after the bracket sets
- Mon-Wed: Practice rounds at host sites. Pitching probables for opening games.
- Fri-Sun: Regional double-elimination tournaments. Each regional has 4 teams; the winner advances.
- Following weekend: Super regionals — best-of-three series at top-16 host sites. Eight winners advance.
- Following 2 weeks: CWS / WCWS in Omaha / Oklahoma City — eight teams, double-elimination, then best-of-three championship series.