Everyone's favorite summer baseball tradition, the Little League World Series, is back in action this week in Williamsport.
Twenty of the best teams from around the globe are gathered in Pennsylvania for the next two weeks for the annual tournament, going head-to-head to be crowned world champions. It includes 10 squads from the United States and another 10 teams representing nations from all around the world.
California produced the LLWS champion in 2023. The team from El Segundo defeated the Caribbean crew from Curacao to win the tournament.
Who will win the competition this year? The Sporting News has everything you need to know about the 2024 Little League World Series.
MORE: Watch the Little League World Series live with Fubo (free trial)
Little League World Series teams 2024
The Little League World Series will feature a 20-team field — 10 from the United States and 10 from countries around the globe.
To note, the Little League World Series' expansion teams began a three-year rotation in 2022 among Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The rotation of auto bids drew Puerto Rico and Cuba in 2024 and will draw Panama and Puerto Rico in 2025. The third country each year will still have a chance to qualify through its regional tournament (Panama did not qualify from the Caribbean Region in 2024).
Here's a look at the teams set to challenge for the 2024 Little League World Series title:
United States teams
| Region | Team | Location |
| Great Lakes | Hinsdale Little League | Hinsdale, Ill. |
| Metro | South Shore Little League | Staten Island, N.Y. |
| Mid-Atlantic | Council Rock Newtown Little League | Newtown, Pa. |
| Midwest | Sioux Falls Little League | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| Mountain | Paseo Verde Little League | Henderson, Nev. |
| New England | Salem Little League | Salem, N.H. |
| Northwest | South Hill Little League | Puyallup, Wash. |
| Southeast | Lake Mary Little League | Lake Mary, Fla. |
| Southwest | Boerne Little League | Boerne, Texas |
| West | Central East Maui Little League | Wailuku, Hawaii |
International teams
| Region | Team | Location |
| Asia-Pacific | Kuei-Shan Little League | Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei |
| Australia | Hills Little League | Sydney, Australia |
| Canada | Whalley Little League | Surrey, British Columbia |
| Caribbean | Aruba Center Little League | Santa Cruz, Aruba |
| Cuba | Santa Clara Little League | Villa Clara, Cuba |
| Europe-Africa | South Czech Republic Little League | Brno, Czech Republic |
| Japan | Johoku Little League | Tokyo, Japan |
| Latin America | Cardenales Little League | Barquisimeto, Venezuela |
| Mexico | Matamoros Little League | Tamaulipas, Mexico |
| Puerto Rico | Radames Lopez Little League | Guayama, Puerto Rico |
2024 Little League World Series bracket
You can download a PDF of the full 2024 Little League World Series bracket here.
MORE: Track the 2024 Little League World Series bracket
Little League World Series location
The Little League World Series returns to Williamsport, Pa., which has hosted the event every year since its inception in 1947.
How old are Little League World Series players?
This year, the eligible age range for participants is 10 to 12 years old as of Aug. 31, 2024.
In 2020 and 2021, the league accepted only 11- and 12-year-olds. Before then, the age group allowed children as old as 13 to play.
What is the LLWS pitch count limit?
With the Little League World Series allowing 10-year-olds at the tournament, there are differing pitch count rules for its participants.
Per Little League Baseball regulations, 10-year-olds have a 75-pitch count. Participants who are 11 or 12 can throw as many as 85 pitches in a game.
The designated rest period per pitch count is the same for all participants aged 10-12, and remains the same as in previous years:
| Pitches | Days of rest |
|---|---|
| 66-85 | 4 |
| 51-65 | 3 |
| 36-50 | 2 |
| 21-35 | 1 |
| 1-20 | 0 |
Little League World Series field size
- 46 feet: Pitching rubber to home plate
- 60 feet: Length of basepaths
- 225 feet: Home plate to outfield fence
Once again, the Little League World Series will take place in Williamsport, Pa., and the games will be split between Howard J. Lamade and Little League Volunteer stadiums, both of which have the same dimensions.
MORE: Full bracket, results, broadcast info and more for 2024 LLWS
Who won the LLWS in 2023?
El Segundo Little League (California) defeated Pabao Little League (Caribbean) in the 2023 Little League World Series final, marking the second year in a row that the Pabao Little League team lost in the championship.
That win marked the eighth total for the state of California, the most out of any individual state in the U.S. California still trails Chinese Taipei (17) and Japan (11) among international squads.
List of past Little League World Series champions
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) has claimed the most Little League World Series titles, with 17 in its history, but the last one was in 1996.
Next on the list is Japan and California, who have 11 and eight, respectively. Japan last won in 2017, while California took the championship in 2023.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Williamsport, Pa. |
| 1948 | Lock Haven, Pa. |
| 1949 | Hammonton, N.J. |
| 1951 | Stamford, Conn. |
| 1952 | Norwalk, Conn. |
| 1953 | Birmingham, Ala. |
| 1954 | Schenectady, N.Y. |
| 1955 | Morrisville, Pa. |
| 1956 | Roswell, N.M. |
| 1957 | Monterrey, Mexico |
| 1958 | Monterrey, Mexico |
| 1959 | Hamtramck, Mich. |
| 1960 | Levittown, Pa. |
| 1961 | El Cajon, Calif. |
| 1962 | San Jose, Calif. |
| 1963 | Granada Hills, Calif. |
| 1964 | Staten Island, N.Y. |
| 1965 | Windsor Locks, Conn. |
| 1966 | Houston |
| 1967 | West Tokyo, Japan |
| 1968 | Wakayama, Osaka, Japan |
| 1969 | Taichung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1970 | Wayne, N.J. |
| 1971 | Tainan, Chinese Taipei |
| 1972 | Taipei, Chinese Taipei |
| 1973 | Tainan, Chinese Taipei |
| 1974 | Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1975 | Lakewood, N.J. |
| 1976 | Chofu, Tokyo, Japan |
| 1977 | Kahosiung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1978 | Pingtung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1979 | Chiayi County, Chinese Taipei |
| 1980 | Hua-Lien, Chinese Taipei |
| 1981 | Taichung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1982 | Kirkland, Wash. |
| 1983 | Marietta, Ga. |
| 1984 | Seoul, South Korea |
| 1985 | Seoul, South Korea |
| 1986 | Tainan, Chinese Taipei |
| 1987 | Hua-Lien, Chinese Taipei |
| 1988 | Taichung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1989 | Trumbull, Conn. |
| 1990 | Tainan County, Chinese Taipei |
| 1991 | Taichung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1992 | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1993 | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1994 | Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| 1995 | Tainan, Chinese Taipei |
| 1996 | Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei |
| 1997 | Guadalupe, Mexico |
| 1998 | Toms River, N.J. |
| 1999 | Hirakata, Osaka, Japan |
| 2001 | Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| 2002 | Valley Station, Ky. |
| 2003 | Musashi-Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2004 | Willemstad, Curacao |
| 2005 | Ewa Beach, Hawaii |
| 2006 | Columbus, Ga. |
| 2007 | Warner-Robins, Ga. |
| 2008 | Waipahu, Hawaii |
| 2009 | Chula Vista, Calif. |
| 2010 | Edogawa Minami, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2011 | Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| 2012 | Tokyo Kitasuna, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2013 | Musashi Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2014 | Seoul, South Korea |
| 2015 | Tokyo Kitasuna, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2016 | Maine-Endwell, N.Y. |
| 2017 | Tokyo Kitasuna, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2018 | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 2019 | River Ridge, La. |
| 2020 | Canceled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | Taylor, Mich. |
| 2022 | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 2023 | El Segundo, Calif. |