10 things to know about the IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group A

The IX WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup is set to open on Tuesday in Thunder Bay, Canada, with the Opening Day of Group A. With the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group B presented by CARNEXT scheduled to be played in Miyoshi City, Japan, from 13 to 18 September, here are 10 things that you must know about the tournament.

1.- This is the first ever Baseball World Cup, in any category, to be played using the new Two Stage Format. After Groups A and B, scheduled this year, the Finals will be played in Thunder Bay, Canada, in the summer of 2024.

2.- Thunder Bay is no stranger to international baseball since it hosted the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2010 and 2017. 

3.- On Tuesday 8 August, Mexico will make their historic debut in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, becoming the 15^th national team to participate in this event. In Group B, France will make their first appearance in the competition.

4.- The 15 games of Group A will be played in two different stadiums: Starting in Baseball Central before finishing the tournament in Port Arthur Stadium. Three games will be played each day.

5.- Six teams will advance to the Finals 2024. The top two nations in the final standings of each group will advance to the Finals 2024. As the host team, Canada has secured its spot in the Finals. Depending on Canada’s final position in Group A, one or two wild cards will become available for the third place finishers.

6.- Group A in Thunder Bay will mark the return of the Women’s Baseball World Cup after five years. The last edition of this event was played in 2018 in Viera, USA.

7.- This is the third time that Canada will host the Women’s Baseball World Cup. Previously, the city of Edmonton hosted the event in 2004 (the inaugural edition) and 2012. 

8.- Canada and USA played for the bronze medal in 2018, with the red and white winning a 10-inning battle 8-5. Both nations have won six medals each, only behind Japan that has medalled in the eight previous editions. Japan (6) and USA (2) are the only World Champions in the history of this tournament.

9.- The staging of the XXVIII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 in Thunder Bay, Canada, helped break the all-time monthly passenger record at the Thunder Bay International Airport (TBIAA) in August.

10.- The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup will be the first streamed live by GameTime, the WBSC’s streaming platform, with a Tournament Pass, Group Passes and Daily Passes available for baseball enthusiasts.