The first event to be held under this new system is the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup this year, which will play the Group Stage in Europe from 11 to 26 July in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland (Group A); Valencia, Spain (Group B); and Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy (Group C). The finals will be staged in Italy in the summer of 2024.

Japan’s roster includes seven members of the 2018 silver-medal U-19 National Team, and two players that claimed the 2020 U-18 world title.

The golden base of the trophy has the name of the event engraved in black and light blue, along with the flag of the host country, the name of the city, and the inscription “World Champions” both in English and Spanish, the official languages of the WBSC.

Through the WBSC-Mizuno partnership, that runs through to 2025, the Japan-based company is appointed as the official softball and umpire equipment supplier for all WBSC softball events, including Men’s and Women’s Softball World Cups.

Prince Albert, Canada, will host a Men’s Softball World Cup group in 2024 and the Finals in 2025.

Prime Ministers Park, which was improved with a CAD$1.5 million renovation for the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2018, will host the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup in 2024 (group stage) and 2025 (Finals).

For the first time in history Argentina close the year as World No. 1 in the men’s chart; while USA remain as the top-ranked nation in the world in the women’s ranking.

The final softball event of the year was the II WBSC U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup.

The WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022 featured impressive global media coverage, especially in the Philippines where the highlights of their national team's victory over Denmark passed 1.2m views on Facebook.

The silver medal makes Canada the most successful team in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup with 13 medals - four gold, six silver and four bronze - one ahead of New Zealand on 13.