The World Baseball Softball Confederation announced Tuesday that it has awarded the hosting rights of the 30th edition of the U-18 Baseball World Cup, which will take place in September 2021, to USA Baseball.

All 50 U-18 World Cup games will be played either at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., the Spring Training home of the Orioles, or LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., the Spring Training home of the Pirates. It will mark the first time since 1995 that the event is held in the United States.

“USA Baseball presented an excellent bid, vision and venue plan for one of youth sport’s most prestigious world championships, the U-18 Baseball World Cup,” said WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari. “The world’s best young players and next generation of superstars will have an iconic stage -- the same stadiums where top professionals play and train -- to perform and showcase their talents to the passionate fans in the stands and those watching across the world.

“While the sport of baseball has never been as global as it is today, there has never been a more opportune time to bring the U-18 Baseball World Cup back to the U.S., where baseball, together with softball, has furthered its position as the most practiced team sport, with participation numbers increasing over 20 percent to 25 million over the last five years, in the U.S. alone.”

The announcement was made at a joint press conference held at the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, featuring Fraccari, USA Baseball president Mike Gaski, USA Baseball executive director/CEO Paul Seiler, Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly, Orioles-Sarasota vice president David Rovine and representatives from Visit Sarasota County and the Bradenton Area Sports Commission.

“The appetite around the world [for baseball] is really incredible,” Seiler said. “The baseball world is going to be looking in to Bradenton and Sarasota in 2021, into these magnificent, world-class venues. And then like a mirror it’s going to be reflected back to the world of what this community and what this event has to offer, and it’s going to be amazing.

“We could not be more proud and honored to be partnered with everybody at the table," Seiler added. "We’re committed to putting on a world-class event for all to see. Not only for the participants, but for the world to watch and to realize how great this sport is."

The 2021 U-18 Baseball World Cup will feature players from 12 countries in the U-18 category (16 to 18 years old). The USA Baseball 18U National Team, the four-time defending U-18 world champions, will be granted an automatic berth into the tournament, as the host nation. Team USA will aim for its fifth straight U-18 Baseball World Cup title this year in Gijang, Republic of Korea, from Friday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Sept. 8.

The U-18 Baseball World Cup has consistently featured some of the world’s best players, including future Major Leaguers such as Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Buster Posey, Yu Darvish, Shohei Ohtani, Shin-Soo Choo, Yasiel Puig and Aroldis Chapman.

“The winner of this event will be able to say that they are the best in the world, Gaski said. “And that kind of takes your breath away when you think about it. For that window of time, to be on that stage and to stand up there and say, ‘Hey, you know what, we did something very very special.’

“And this community, I think is in for a great treat. We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next couple years to get ready. But I think we’re in the right place, and I know we’re with the right people.”