09/07/2023 2 Minute Read

WBSC Women's Softball World Cup ready for lift off

Australia take on Great Britain in the first game of the tournament at the Balbriggan All Weather Field in Fingal-Dublin in Ireland on Tuesday at 11:00 local time.

The best of the best of international women's softball is ready to go with the start of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup taking place on Tuesday at the Balbriggan All Weather Field in Fingal-Dublin in Ireland.

Group A in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland start proceedings with world No. 1 and 12-time champions USA taking on hosts and world No. 17 Ireland, No. 9 Australia, No. 3 Chinese Taipei, No. 16 Great Britain and No. 43 Botswana with the the top two teams moving on to next year’s Finals in Italy.

In a major international sporting rivalry, Australia take on Great Britain in the first game of the tournament on Tuesday at 11:00 local time.

It will be an historic moment for the sport, with three countries - Ireland, Spain and Italy - hosting a WBSC Softball World Cup for the first time while it will be the first two-stage tournament for the WBSC. The top two teams from each group will “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year.

Group B in Valencia, Spain sees the hosts, ranked 12th in the world, welcome No. 4 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Netherlands, No. 11 China, No. 28 Cuba and No. 38 South Africa from 18-22 July.

Group C in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy sees world No. 2 and Olympic champions Japan, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Italy, No. 26 Philippines and No. 29 New Zealand in action from 22-26 July.

The first edition of the WBSC Softball World Cup took place in 1965 with five teams, Australia winning the title ahead of USA and Japan with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea completing the lineup.

Sixteen editions plus the World Games later, there will be 18 teams with three new hosts starting on Tuesday.

Three countries have played in every edition of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup - Australia (one gold, one silver and six bronze medals), New Zealand (one gold, one silver and two bronze) and USA (12 gold, four silver). USA has only once not reached the final, finishing fourth in 1982.

The last time USA lost a final was in 2014, to Japan who has won three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals in 16 appearances.