The WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2024/2025 is set to open its exciting group stage on Tuesday, with Group A taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 23 to 27 July.
World No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 9 Czechia, No. 13 Great Britain, No. 22 Brazil, No. 33 Colombia and No. 33 New Zealand will take the field aiming to earn the two tickets available for the Finals 2025.
Check out 10 things you should know about this group.
1.- Chinese Taipei is the only team in Group A with a medal in this competition. They have reached the podium three times, a silver medal in Lima 2021 and two bronze medals in South Africa 2011 and Taipei City 1999. Seven countries have medalled in this event overall.
2.- This is the first time Brazil will host a WBSC World Cup. They become the ninth nation to host the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup, along with Canada, USA, Australia, Chinese Taipei, China, the Netherlands, South Africa and Peru. This event has been hosted in five continents.
3.- Five of the six participating teams in Group A have finished in the top-eight of this competition in the past. Only Great Britain have failed to do so, with a best finish of ninth in 2013.
4.- A total of 35 nations and territories, from the five Olympic continents, have participated in this event in the past.
5.- The Mie Nishi Municipal Stadium was re-inaugurated to host this event. The 56-year-old stadium underwent a major upgrade with extensive improvements on and off the pitch. The venue was inaugurated on 21 June 1958, during the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of Japanese Immigration in Brazil.
6.- Brazil is the second Latin American nation to host this event.
7.- USA is the only nation to participate in all 14 previous editions of the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup. Australia, Canada, China, Japan and Chinese Taipei have played 13 World Cups.
8.- Four continents are represented in Group A: Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
9.- The first edition of this World Cup was played in 1981 in Edmonton, Canada. That year, both the Junior Men's and Junior Women's World Cups were played simultaneously.
10.- The eight-team WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals will be played in 2025 in Dallas, USA.
