Softball World Cups Format

1) Overview

All WBSC Softball World Cups shift to a 4 year cycle: 

  • U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup - 8 teams;
  • U-15 Women's Softball World Cup - 12 teams;
  • U-18 Women's Softball World Cup - 18 teams;
  • U-18 Men's Softball World Cup - 12 teams;
  • U-23 Men's Softball World Cup - 12 Teams;
  • Women's Softball World Cup - 18 teams;
  • Men's Softball World Cup - 18 teams.

*Italics denote a change to the numbers of teams

2) 1-Stage World Cups (8 Teams)

  • U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup.

2.1) 4-year cycle

  • Year 1 - Continental Qualifier;
  • Year 2 - World Cup;
  • Year 3 - Off year;
  • Year 4 - Off year.

2.2) Participating Teams & Continental Quota

8 participating teams as follows:

  • Africa - 1;
  • Americas - 2;
  • Asia - 2;
  • Europe - 1;
  • Oceania - 1;
  • Host / Wild Card*: 1.

*Wild Card designation criteria:

  • Criterion 1: 1 Wild Card spot secured for the host country. If this criterion does not settle it, then the next criterion will be used;
  • Criterion 2: If the host is among qualified nations, open request process for Executive Board evaluation and decision.

2.2.1) Competition Format

  • 2 groups of 4 teams in 1 location;
  • Competition format remains the same as before:
    • Round Robin;
    • Super Round;
    • Finals.

3) 1-Stage World Cups (12 Teams) 

  • U-15 Women's Softball World Cup (1st Edition);
  • U-18 Men's Softball World Cup;
  • U-23 Men's Softball World Cup (1st Edition).

3.1) 4-Year Cycle 

  • Year 1 - Continental Qualifier;
  • Year 2 - World Cup;
  • Year 3 - Off year;
  • Year 4 - Off year.

3.2) Participating Teams & Continental Quota

12 participating Teams as follows:

  • Africa - 1;
  • Americas - 4;
  • Asia - 2;
  • Europe - 2;
  • Oceania - 2
  • Host / Wild Card*: 1

*Wild Card designation criteria:

  • Criterion 1: 1 World Cup spot secured for the host country. If this criterion does not settle it, then the next criterion will be used;
  • Criterion 2: If the host is among qualified nations, open request process for Executive Board evaluation and decision.

3.2.1) Competition Format

  • 2 groups of 6 teams in 1 location;
  • Competition format remains the same as before:
    • Round Robin;
    • Super Round;
    • Finals.

3.3) Calendar Changes in 1-Stage Formats

  • U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup
  • U-15 Women's Softball World Cup 
  • U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 
    • U-18 Men's Softball World Cup to shift 1 year forward to balance schedule.
  • U-23 Men's Softball World Cup
    • Inaugural U-23 Men's Softball World Cup moved to 2022 to balance the schedule.

4) 2-Stage World Cups (18 Teams)

  • U-18 Women's Softball World Cup;
  • Women's Softball World Cup;
  • Men's Softball World Cup.

4.1) 4-Year Cycle

  • Year 1 - Continental Qualifier;
  • Year 2 - World Cup - Group Stage;
  • Year 3 - World Cup - Finals;
  • Year 4 - Off-year.

4.2) World Cup - Group Stage, Participating Teams & Continental Quota

18 participating Teams as follows:

  • Africa - 2;
  • Americas - 5;
  • Asia - 3;
  • Europe - 3;
  • Oceania - 2;
  • Host / Wild Card*: 3.

4.2.1) Competition Format for Group Stage

  • 3 groups of 6 teams with Continental representation;
  • Each group to be hosted at a different location;
  • 3-4 competition days in 2 venues needed to complete the round robin and qualification round (5-6 games per team).

*Wild Card designation criteria for Group Stage:

  • Criterion: 1 Wild Card spot secured for each host country. If, however, 1 or more hosts are among qualified nations, open request process for Executive Board evaluation and decision.

4.2.2) Qualification Process to World Cup Finals

  • The top 2 Teams from each group of the Group Stage will advance to the World Cup Finals;
  • 2 Wild Card* Teams will also advance to the World Cup Finals.

*Wild Card criteria for Finals as follows:

  • Criterion 1: 1 Wild Card spot secured for the host country. If this criterion does not settle it, then the next criteria will be used;
  • Criterion 2: The top 3rd place team(s) in the Group Stage based on final standings from the previous World Cup edition qualify for the World Cup Finals. If this criterion does not settle it (for example, if none of the 3rd place finishers participated in the last World Cup), then the next criterion will be used; 
  • Criterion 3: The top 3rd place team(s) in the Group Stage based on the highest position in the WBSC Rankings at the end of the previous calendar year qualify for the World Cup Finals.

4.3) World Cup Finals Competition Format

8 teams participating:

  • The top 2 teams from each group of the Group Stage plus 2 Wild Cards*;
  • 2 groups of 4 teams in 1 location;
  • 4 competition days in 2 venues needed to complete the round robin and finals (5-6 games per team).

4.4) Calendar Changes for 2-Stage Formats

Women's Softball World Cup:

  • World Cup Finals to be played the year before the Olympic Games (i.e. 2027, 2031,…);
  • Start the format 1st cycle in 2022 (Continental Qualifier), with World Cup Group Stage in 2023 and World Cup Final Stage in 2024;
  • Skipping the year off in the 1st cycle to fit the event into a regular cycle, hence scheduling Continental Qualifier in 2025, World Cup Group Stage in 2026 and World Cup Final Stage in 2027, with a year off in 2028 to close the regular cycle. 

U-18 Women's Softball World Cup:

  • Aligned with Women's Senior to ensure they do not to coincide;
  • Format first cycle to start in 2023 (Continental Qualifier), with World Cup Group Stage in 2024 and World Cup Finals in 2025. 

Men's Softball World Cup:

  • World Cup Final Stage to played the year after the Olympic Games;
  • Format 1st cycle to start in 2023 (Continental Qualifier), with World Cup Group Stage in 2024 and World Cup Finals in 2025;
  • The other 2 Men's events (U-18 and U-23) are aligned to ensure they do not coincide, hence ensuring 1 Men's Softball event each year.