With the final results of the 2023 Asian Softball Cup tallied, the names of the 18 national teams participating in the first stage of the Softball World Cup during the month of July in Ireland, Spain and Italy have been revealed. The Softball World Cup final stage will take place in 2024 on the diamonds of Friuli Venezia-Giulia.
Japan, reigning champion of the Olympics and the recent Asian Cup, qualified for the Softball World Cup as "Asia 1", while the Philippines qualified for the international tourney with an Asian Cup fourth-place finish to secure the wild card. The two Asian teams compete in Softball World Cup Group C with host Team Italy, Canada, Venezuela and New Zealand in Castions di Strada and Buttrio from July 22-26, 2023. The first two teams of each group plus two wild cards will advance to the Softball World Cup final stage. An explanation of the playoff format can be accessed HERE.
Japan won the Asian Cup final with a 6-0 shutout over China (qualifying for Group B as "Asia 2"), while the bronze went to Chinese Taipei (qualifying for Group A as "Asia 3"). Three-time world champion Japan has been on the podium since the 1998 edition of the Softball World Cup and has claimed the 2012 and 2014 championship titles. The Philippines compete in its eighth Softball World Cup participation after failing to qualify for the 2022 competition. Number 30 in the WBSC ranking, the Philippines won the bronze medal in the 1970 Softball World Cup in Osaka, Japan. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy host WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group C from July 22-26, 2023
