Little League World Series 2024: Friday Schedule, TV Info and Bracket Predictions

Thursday brought the second day of competition in this year's Little League World Series, and four more teams advanced to the next round of the upper brackets.

While Wednesday's opening slate featured three games decided by two or fewer runs, Thursday's games weren't quite as competitive. However, we haven't reached the elimination stage, so no one will be going home just yet.

Every team is guaranteed to play at least two games, and the final series of opening-round games will take place on Friday. Four teams will be looking for a 2-0 start, while four others will see their first action of the tournament.

Here's a look at what's ahead.

Thursday Results

Staff photo by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 19: Fans watch a game between Southeast and Metro at Lamade Stadium on Friday, Aug. 19, 2023 at the Little League World Series. (Staff photo by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

Game 5

Japan Region (Tokyo) 11, Puerto Rico Region (Guayama, Puerto Rico) 0

Game 6

Mountain Region (Henderson, Nevada) 9, Metro Region (Staten Island, New York) 1

Game 7

Cuba Region (Santa Clara, Villa Clara) 4, Europe and Africa Region (Brno, Czech Republic) 1

Game 8

Southwest Region (Boerne, Texas) 9, Mid-Atlantic Region (Newtown, Pennsylvania) 0

Friday Schedule

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 27: A general view is seen during the second inning of the Little League World Series Championship Game between the West Region team from El Segundo, California and the Caribbean Region team from Willemstad, Curacao at Little League International Complex on August 27, 2023 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Latin America Region (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) vs. Mexico Region (Matamoros, Tamaulipas)

Details: 1 p.m. ET at Volunteer (ESPN)

Prediction: Latin America Region

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Great Lakes Region (Hinsdale, Illinois) vs. West Region (Wailuku, Hawai'i

Details: 3 p.m. ET at Lamade (ESPN)

Prediction: West Region

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Australia Region (Sydney, New South Wales) vs. Asia-Pacific Region (Taoyuan, Taiwan)

Details: 5 p.m. ET at Volunteer (ESPN)

Prediction: Asia-Pacific Region

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Northwest Region (Puyallup, Washington) vs. Southeast Region (Lake Mary, Florida)

Details: 7 p.m. ET at Lamade (ESPN)

Prediction: Northwest Region

Friday Preview

Set Number: X164127 TK2

Youth Baseball: Little League World Series: Asia-Pacific Region (Fu-Lin Little League Taipei City, Chinese Taipei) Liao Yuan-Shu (18) in action, pitching vs Panama Region (Aguadulce Cabezera Little League Aguadulce, Panama) during game at Volunteer Stadium. Williamsport, PA 8/22/2022 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164127 TK2)

On Friday, fans will see teams from Venezuela (Cardenales Little League), Illinois (Hinsdale Little League), Australia (Hills Little League) and Washington (South Hill Little League) for the first time.

The Little League World Series transitioned to a 20-team format in 2022 in an effort to allow more youth players worldwide to experience the extravaganza. Along with expansion came the implementation of four randomly assigned byes.

The winners of Wednesday's games—Mexico (Matamoros Little League), Hawai'i (Central East Maui Little League), Taiwan (Kuei-Shan Little League) and Florida (Lake Mary Little League) will play their second games of the tournament.

Taiwan—also known as Chinese Taipei—had the most impressive win of Day 1. Kuei-Shan Little League recorded a decisive 8-0 shutout of the Canadian team (Whalley Little League(, quickly establishing Taiwan as a team to beat in the international bracket if not the entire tournament.

El Segundo Little League of California won last year's Little League World Series, while Pabao Little League of Curaçao was the runner-up. Neither team made this year's tournament, however, making Kuei-Shan Little League the top performer from 2023 to return.

Kuei-Shan Little League advanced to the International finals with an undefeated record last year before falling 2-0 to Curaçao.

Taiwan should present a tough test for the team from Sydney, Australia, which carried a 5-2 record in regional play. Hills Little League has been here before, though it went 0-2 in last year's tournament.

Cardenales Little League will be another team to watch in the international bracket, as it returns from the 2023 tournament—where it was ousted in Round 3.

No U.S. teams are making consecutive appearances this year, but South Hill Little League could be a serious contender. The team from Washington lost its opening game of the regional tournament but won its final three while outscoring opponents 38-16.

South Hill's offense, though will be tested by a Lake Mary defense that surrendered only two runs in its last three games.

Hinsdale Little League went undefeated in the regional tournament, but it will immediately face a stiff test against the team from Hawai'i. Central East Maui Little League claimed a 3-1 victory on Wednesday and comes from a region known for producing champions—Honolulu Little League won the 2022 tournament.

The good news for all eight competitors is that we haven't reached elimination play yet. A loss on Friday will be unwelcome, but it won't end a team's chances of winning it all.