Little League Softball World Series 2026 Sunday TV Schedule and Bracket Predictions

The 2026 Little League Softball World Series kicks off Sunday from Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina, with the best squads from around the world competing for the top prize in the sport.

Who are the teams that make up this year's field, when can you check out the first games in this year's tournament, and who are some of the contenders to watch for?

Find out in this preview of Sunday's slate.

Participating Teams

Canada Region: On Field LLS LL (Repentigny, Quebec)

Europe and Africa: Emilia Romagna LL (Bologna, Italy)

North Carolina: Johnston County LL (Clayton, North Carolina)

Northwest: Snohomish LL (Snohomish, Washington)

Southeast: Lake Mary LL (Lake Mary, Florida)

Southwest: Greater Helotes LL (Helotes, Texas)

Asia-Pacific: Kinki Softball LL (Sangō, Japan)

Central: Daviess County LL (Owensboro, Kentucky)

Latin America: Guayama Softball LL (Guayama, Puerto Rico)

Mid-Atlantic: Toms River LL (Toms River, New Jersey)

New England: Bristol Girls Softball LL (Bristol, Connecticut)

West: Live Oak LL (Live Oak, California)

Sunday TV Schedule and Predictions

Game 1: Southeast Region at Northwest Region (10:00 a.m. EST, ESPN2)

• Prediction: Southeast Region

Game 2: Mid-Atlantic Region at Asia-Pacific Region (1:00 p.m. EST, ESPN2)

• Mid-Atlantic Region

Game 3: West Region vs. Central Region (4:00 p.m. EST, 4:00 p.m. EST, ESPN2)

• Prediction: West Region

Game 4: Canada Region vs. North Carolina Region (7:00 p.m. EST, ESPN2)

• Prediction: Canada Region

Contenders

Johnston County Little League (North Carolina)

Only created in the last three years, per WKML 95.7, the Johnston County team has the opportunity to announce its arrival on the international stage with a win in this year's tournament.

They demonstrated complete play, excelling on both sides of the ball in their regional tournament, where they outscored opponents 32-0 in as dominant a fashion as any other regional representative in this year's field.

Whether that translates against top teams from around the world remains to be seen, but they are by far the most intriguing team to watch.

Daviess County LL (Central)

Sherlon Christie of USA Today wrote about Daviess County LL pitcher Michaela Knight:

"She went six innings, allowed four hits, gave up two walks and struck out five in the shutout victory over Floyds Knobs LL to win the regional title. She also pitched all 30 innings in her team's five games and had 25 strikeouts during the regional tournament."

If Knight can muster that sort of dominance on the mound, it will help a Kentucky team that emerged from the loser's bracket to win the Central Division title and will look to become the first from its state to win the Little League Softball World Series.

It will have to get contributions from the rest of the rotation, and the bats will have to be effective, but the underdogs certainly bear watching.

Live Oak Little League (West)

California teams have a long history of success in this tournament, with Christie noting that five of the last seven teams from the state have won the championship.

That has not happened since 1990, but the Live Oak team arrives in Greenville, North Carolina, having gone undefeated in their regional tournament (4-0) and with the play on both sides of the ball necessary to become the sixth to take home the world title.