Race for LA28 Olympic berth starts as WBSC unveils Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage schedule
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today unveiled the official game schedule for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage, which will be played in Prague, Czechia; Lima, Peru; and Oklahoma City, USA.
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027 marks the first qualification event on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games, with one Olympic berth available for the top-ranked team at the Finals 2027.
A total of 57 games will be contested during the Group Stage, scheduled as follows: Prague from 16–20 June, Lima from 14–18 July, and Oklahoma City from 12–16 September.
Each group will feature a four-day, 15-game round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the Play-Offs. The top two teams will face each other for a direct spot in the Finals 2027, while the loser will play the winner of the third-place vs fourth-place matchup for the second qualification spot. In total, six teams will qualify for the Finals, joined by two wild cards.
The XVIII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027 will be held in Redcliffe, Australia, from 5 to 11 April.
Japan are the reigning World Champions after winning the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup against USA, 6–1. Canada claimed the bronze medal with a thrilling 11–7, 11-inning win over the Netherlands.
Group Prague
The tournament will open at the Stadium of Joudrs in Prague, with No. 9 Italy facing No. 4 Canada on 16 June at 12:00. No. 14 Cuba will then take on No. 5 Chinese Taipei at 15:00, followed by No. 10 Czechia vs No. 11 Australia at 19:00, immediately after the Opening Ceremony.
The round robin will run through 19 June, with the Play-Offs scheduled for 20 June.
Australia has already qualified for the Finals as host nation. Should they fail to finish in the top two of the group, they will be awarded a wild card for the Finals in Redcliffe.
This marks the second time the Stadium of Joudrs hosts a Softball World Cup, following the Men’s Softball World Cup in 2019.
Group Lima
Group Lima at the Villa María del Triunfo Softball Stadium will begin on 14 July with No. 13 Philippines facing No. 16 Venezuela at 11:00. The Opening Ceremony will follow, with No. 18 Peru taking on No. 3 Puerto Rico at 15:00 and No. 1 Japan playing No. 12 Great Britain at 18:00.
The round robin will conclude on 17 July, with the Play-Offs scheduled for 18 July.
The venue previously hosted the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2021 and the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, and will stage the Pan American Games again in 2027.
Group Oklahoma City
The final group will be played at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, beginning on 12 September. Opening Day will feature No. 36 South Africa vs No. 8 China at 13:00, followed by No. 23 New Zealand vs No. 6 Netherlands at 16:00. World No. 2 USA will face No. 7 Mexico in the final game of the day.
The round robin will run through 15 September, with the Play-Offs scheduled for 16 September.
Devon Park will once again host a World Cup event, having previously staged the Junior Women’s Softball World Championship 2015, the Men’s Softball World Cup Group Stage 2024, and the U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025. The venue will also host softball competition at the LA28 Olympic Games.
