WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage schedule announced; New Zealand, Chinese Taipei to play opening game

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) revealed today the official schedule for the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup - Group Stage 2024. The three groups will be hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Group A); Pingtan, China (Group B) and Dallas, USA (Group C). New Zealand and Chinese Taipei will open the competition on 23 July at noon (local time) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2024/2025 is the first tournament at this age level to be staged under the two-stage system. A total of 18 teams are split into three groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Finals 2025 in Dallas, USA.

A total of 57 games will be played this year across the three groups to complete the Group Stage. 

Group A, scheduled from 23 to 27 July at the Estadio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will feature world No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 9 Czechia, No. 13 Great Britain, hosts and No. 22 Brazil, New Zealand and Colombia, who are tied at No. 33.

No. 2 Puerto Rico, No. 3 Japan, No. 6 Italy, No. 8 the Netherlands, No. 14 Peru and No. 17 China will compete in Group B, scheduled from 14 to 18 August at the Pingtan Softball Stadium in China.

While Group C includes No. 1 USA, No. 5 Canada, No. 7 Mexico, No. 10 Australia, No. 15 the Philippines and No. 21 Ireland. This group will take place from 29 August to 2 September at The Village Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

Each group will play a four-day, 15-game round robin with the top four teams advancing to play-offs on the final day, with the top two sides playing each other with a ticket to the Finals 2025 at stake. The loser of the first play-off game will then play against the third v fourth winner for the second spot in next year's Finals.