The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has selected Buttrio and Castions di Strada (Udine) in Italy as one of three sites for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stages in 2023. The other two locations chosen for the 2023 group competition are Donabate, Ireland and Valencia, Spain. Italy will ultimately host the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup eight-team final in 2024. The exact dates of the preliminary and final tournament have not yet been released.
Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) President Andrea Marcon said, "We are very proud that Italy will host the Softball World Cup in 2023 and 2024. It will be the first time for our country and the second time in history in Europe. I believe that this choice also derives from the success of the organization of the European Softball Championship in 2021 when we had the opportunity to work closely with WBSC staff and the facilities were appreciated both from the point of view of the game and from that of hospitality. These events are truly good for our sport, and we look forward to hosting softball fans from all over the world."
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup first phase will include a total of 18 countries divided into three groups of six teams in Italy, Ireland and Spain. The two top teams from each group along with two wild cards will move on to the second and final phase in Italy. This is the second time in history that Europe has hosted the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup. The Netherlands welcomed the 2014 edition of the international competition.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said, "We are happy to bring the world softball championship back to Europe. The Women's Softball World Cup will be the first to apply the new Two Stage formula which will give more flexibility and opportunities for cities, regions and countries to organize and participate in WBSC events."
The last WBSC Women's Softball World Cup took place in Chiba, Japan in 2018 when USA took gold while Japan settled for silver and Canada placed third. Team Italy finished in seventh place. The Italians will compete in the upcoming World Games in Birmingham, Alabama from July 9-13, 2022. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of the Team Italy women's softball squad after winning the 2021 European Softball Championship by Grega Valancic)
