2025 U-18 Women's Softball World Cup

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Host countries United States
Brazil
China
Dates Group stage
23 July – 9 September 2024
Finals:
27 September – 2 October 2025
TeamsGroup stage: 18
Finals: 8 (from 5 continents)
Venues4 (in 3 host cities)
2025 U-18 Women's Softball World Cup
Tournament details
Host countries United States
Brazil
China
Dates Group stage
23 July – 9 September 2024
Finals:
27 September – 2 October 2025
TeamsGroup stage: 18
Finals: 8 (from 5 continents)
Venues4 (in 3 host cities)
Defending champions United States
Final positions
Champions
 United States (9th title)
Runner-up
 Japan
Third place
 Mexico
Tournament statistics
Games played19
Most Valuable PlayerUnited States Juliana Hutchens
2021

The 2025 U-18 Women's Softball World Cup is the fifteenth edition of the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup, which will be hosted for the first time by three nations.[1][2]

The tournament, with a history of 42 years and 14 editions, moved to a four-year cycle and changed its competition format in 2024. The Group Stage were held between 23 July and 9 September 2024 in São Paulo, Pingtan, and Dallas. The Finals will be held in 27 September–2 October 2025 in Oklahoma City.[3][4][5]

The previous U-18 Women's Softball World Cup was played in Lima, Peru in December 2021, with the United States winning their fourth consecutive world title, and eighth overall, following a dramatic 1–0 victory against Chinese Taipei in the final.[6]

On 13 December 2023, the World Baseball Softball Confederation announced Dallas as the host for one of the groups and the Finals. This will mark the first time that Dallas has hosted a softball World Cup at any category. The United States has hosted the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup (previously called the Junior Women's Softball World Championship and U-19 Women's Softball World Cup) six times in the past.[7]

On 21 December 2023, it was announced that the tournament would return to China after 21 years. Nanjing hosted the event in 2003. This will be the third Softball World Cup on Chinese soil, having also hosted the 2006 Women's Softball World Championship in Beijing.[8]

The same day, Sao Paulo was announced as the host city for the other group. Brazil will host a Softball World Cup for the first time, becoming the 16th nation to host a Women's Softball World Cup, across all categories. Counting Men's Softball World Cups, Brazil will be the 20th host nation of a global softball event.[9]

Group A was played in São Paulo, Brazil, from 23 to 27 July. Group B was played in Pingtan, China, from 14 to 18 August. Group C was played in Dallas, United States, from 29 August to 2 September.

Group A Group B Group C & Finals
Brazil São Paulo, Brasil China Pingtan, China United States Dallas & Oklahoma City, United States
Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi Pingtan Softball Stadium The Village Dallas Oge Energy Field Devon Park - Venue 2
Capacity: 2,500 Capacity: 5,030 Capacity: Capacity: Capacity:

Competition format

Under the new format, the Group Stage and Finals of the World Cups are played in consecutive years. A total of 18 teams will participate in the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup, distributed in three different groups for the Group Stage. Two teams from each group, plus two wild cards, will advance to the Finals, to be played in 2025.

Each group of six teams will play a single round robin, with the top four teams in the standings advancing to the play-offs. The play-offs will open with a knockout match between the third- and fourth-placed teams, followed by a one-on-two matchup, with the winner earning the first available ticket to the finals. The winner of the first game (3 vs. 4) and the loser of the second game (1 vs. 2) will meet in the Repechage Game, in a winner-takes-all competition for second place in next year's Finals.

The wildcard designation criteria for the Finals are (in order):

Criteria 1: A wildcard spot secured for the host country;

Criteria 2: Team(s) with the best third-place finish in the Group Stage, based on the final standings of the previous edition of the World Cup;

Criteria 3: Team(s) in third place in the Group Stage based on the highest position in the WBSC World Ranking at the end of the previous calendar year.

During the final phase, after a group round-robin, the top two seeds from each group advance to the Super Round, while the number three and four seeds will compete in the Placement Round. The number one and two seeds after the Super Round will compete in the World Cup Final. The third and fourth-place finishers will play for bronze.

Classification and participating nations

With the approved format of 18 national teams, the WBSC has distributed the continental quotas as follows:[1][2]

The participants were determined through the continental championships. Due to the absence of national teams and qualifying tournaments in Africa, the two available spots for this continent were granted as invitations to teams that did not qualify through their respective continental championships.[17]

Team Ranking Previous appearances
(Last time)
Best position
 United States 1 14 (2021) Champions (1987, 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
 Brazil 22 6 (2019) Seventh (2011, 2013)
 China 17 13 (2019) Champion (1985)
 Czech Republic 9 9 (2021) Fifth (2021)
 Italy 6 8 (2019) Ninth (1987, 1995, 2015)
 Ireland 21 2 (2019) 14.º (2019)
 Japan 3 13 (2019) Champion (1981, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2013)
 Chinese Taipei 4 13 (2021) Runners-up (2021)
 New Zealand 33 11 (2019) Fourth (2013)
 Australia 10 13 (2019) Third (1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2013)
 Puerto Rico 2 7 (2021) Third (2015, 2017, 2021)
 Canada 5 13 (2019) Third (2019)
 Mexico 7 8 (2021) Fourth (2021)
 Peru 14 2 (2021) Sixth (2021)
 Colombia 33 2 (2021) Eighth (2021)
 Great Britain 13 3 (2017) Ninth (2013)
 Netherlands 8 12 (2021) Sixth (1985, 1987, 2007)
 Philippines 15 4 (2017) Ninth (2003)

Year in italics means venue of the event. Year in bold means champion of the event.

Officials

32 umpires were selected by the WBSC for the tournament.

39 scorers and technical commissions were selected by the WBSC for the tournament.

Group stage

Group A

Group A will be contested in Sao Paulo during 23–27 July 2024.

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Chinese Taipei 6 6 0 26 24 +2 1.000 Advance to Group A Final
2  Czechia 7 5 2 5 25 20 .714 1.5
3  New Zealand 7 3 4 38 14 +24 .429 3.5 Advance to Group A third place play-off
4  Great Britain 6 2 4 0 31 31 .333 4
5  Brazil (H) 6 3 3 2 13 11 .500 3
6  Colombia 6 0 6 5 11 6 .000 6
Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) TQB; 4) ER-TQB; 5) Highest batting average; 6) Coin toss
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
23 July 2024 12:00 New Zealand  4–8  Chinese Taipei 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:55 234 Boxscore
23 July 2024 15:00 Colombia  0–7  Brazil 5 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:35 711 Boxscore
23 July 2024 18:00 Great Britain  0–9  Czech Republic 4 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:34 230 Boxscore
24 July 2024 10:00 Chinese Taipei  10–2  Colombia 5 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:49 151 Boxscore
24 July 2024 13:00 Chinese Taipei  16–1  Brazil 4 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:24 782 Boxscore
24 July 2024 16:00 Brazil  1–2  Great Britain 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:54 353 Boxscore
24 July 2024 19:00 Czech Republic  3–8  New Zealand 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:58 73 Boxscore
25 July 2024 10:00 Great Britain  0–10  Chinese Taipei 4 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:18 38 Boxscore
25 July 2024 13:00 Colombia  1–8  Great Britain 5 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:16 99 Boxscore
25 July 2024 16:00 Colombia  4–11  Czech Republic 6 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 2:01 157 Boxscore
25 July 2024 19:00 Brazil  8–6  New Zealand 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 2:20 511 Boxscore
26 July 2024 10:00 Czech Republic  2–6  Chinese Taipei 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:50 78 Boxscore
26 July 2024 13:00 Brazil  1–5  Czech Republic 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 1:53 208 Boxscore
26 July 2024 16:00 New Zealand  13–11  Great Britain 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 2:44 123 Boxscore
26 July 2024 19:00 New Zealand  11–9  Colombia 7 Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi 2:21 173 Boxscore

Bracket

FinalRepechage
27 July – Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi
 Colombia5
27 July – Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi
 Brazil6
 Czech Republic7
27 July – Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi
 New Zealand1
 Czech Republic0
 New Zealand2

Round Date Local
Time
Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game
duration
Attendance Boxscore
5th place match27 July 202410:00Colombia 5–6 Brazil7Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi2:08422Boxscore
3rd place match27 July 202413:00Great Britain 0–2 Czech Republic7Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi1:33106Boxscore
Final27 July 202416:00New Zealand 1–9 Chinese Taipei5Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi1:21388Boxscore
Repechage27 July 202419:00Czech Republic 7–1 New Zealand7Estádio Municipal de Beisebol Mie Nishi1:56232Boxscore

Group B

Group B will be contested in Pingtan during 15–19 August 2024.

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Japan 5 5 0 31 24 +7 1.000 Advance to Group B Final
2  China (H) 5 4 1 12 5 +7 .800 1
3  Puerto Rico 5 3 2 3 5 2 .600 2 Advance to Group B third place play-off
4  Netherlands 5 2 3 7 0 +7 .400 3
5  Italy 5 1 4 0 15 15 .200 4
6  Peru 5 0 5 1 0 +1 .000 5
Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) TQB; 4) ER-TQB; 5) Highest batting average; 6) Coin toss
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
15 August 2024 9:00 Puerto Rico  1–8  Japan 6 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:31 50 Boxscore
16 August 2024 14:30 Italy  0–10  Japan 4 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:13 80 Boxscore
16 August 2024 16:20 Netherlands  3–4  Puerto Rico 7 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:43 100 Boxscore
16 August 2024 18:40 China  8–0  Peru 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:56 35 Boxscore
17 August 2024 15:00 China  3–0  Netherlands 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:19 70 Boxscore
17 August 2024 16:25 Peru  0–13  Italy 4 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:11 35 Boxscore
17 August 2024 18:10 Japan  10–0  Netherlands 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:19 70 Boxscore
17 August 2024 19:55 Italy  0–1  Puerto Rico 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:08 74 Boxscore
18 August 2024 10:00 Puerto Rico  1–3  China 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:07 60 Boxscore
18 August 2024 11:30 Peru  0–6  Japan 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:15 30 Boxscore
18 August 2024 15:30 China  1–0  Italy 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:01 85 Boxscore
18 August 2024 16:55 Netherlands  1–0  Peru 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:16 70 Boxscore
18 August 2024 19:00 Peru  1–11  Puerto Rico 4 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:19 90 Boxscore
19 August 2024 9:00 Netherlands  3–2  Italy 5 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:22 80 Boxscore
19 August 2024 11:00 Japan  21–2  China 4 Pingtan Softball Stadium 1:45 150 Boxscore

Bracket

FinalRepechage
19 August – Pingtan Softball Stadium
19 August – Pingtan Softball Stadium
19 August – Pingtan Softball Stadium

Round Date Local
Time
Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game
duration
Attendance Boxscore
5th place match19 August 2024:B6CancelledB5Pingtan Softball Stadium
3rd place match19 August 2024:B4CancelledB3Pingtan Softball Stadium
Final19 August 2024:B2CancelledB1Pingtan Softball Stadium
Repechage19 August 2024:Winner of Game 17CancelledLoser of Game 18Pingtan Softball Stadium

Group C

Group A will be contested in Dallas during 29 August – 2 September 2024.

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  United States (H) 6 6 0 34 22 +12 1.000 Advance to Group C Final
2  Canada 7 5 2 11 15 4 .714 1.5
3  Mexico 7 4 3 6 11 5 .571 2.5 Advance to Group C third place play-off
4  Australia 6 2 4 11 0 +11 .333 4
5  Philippines 6 2 4 0 8 8 .333 4
6  Ireland 6 0 6 0 2 2 .000 6
Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) TQB; 4) ER-TQB; 5) Highest batting average; 6) Coin toss
(H) Hosts
Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
29 August 2024 12:30 Australia  7–4  Philippines 7 The Village Dallas 2:12 100 Boxscore
29 August 2024 17:50 Canada  9–0  Mexico 5 The Village Dallas 1:37 100 Boxscore
29 August 2024 20:20 Ireland  0–15  United States 3 The Village Dallas 1:00 170 Boxscore
30 August 2024 9:30 Mexico  6–4  Philippines 9 The Village Dallas 3:28 80 Boxscore
30 August 2024 12:30 Philippines  5–2  Ireland 7 The Village Dallas 1:49 92 Boxscore
30 August 2024 15:30 United States  10–0  Australia 4 The Village Dallas 1:24 160 Boxscore
30 August 2024 18:30 United States  9–1  Canada 6 The Village Dallas 1:40 207 Boxscore
31 August 2024 9:30 Australia  4–0  Ireland 7 The Village Dallas 1:42 133 Boxscore
31 August 2024 12:30 Ireland  0–8  Canada 5 The Village Dallas 1:09 110 Boxscore
31 August 2024 15:30 Philippines  0–6  Canada 7 The Village Dallas 1:45 84 Boxscore
31 August 2024 18:30 Mexico  0–15  United States 3 The Village Dallas 1:04 298 Boxscore
1 September 2024 9:30 Canada  2–0  Australia 7 The Village Dallas 1:29 111 Boxscore
1 September 2024 12:30 Australia  0–2  Mexico 7 The Village Dallas 1:43 131 Boxscore
1 September 2024 15:30 Ireland  0–9  Mexico 5 The Village Dallas 1:18 167 Boxscore
1 September 2024 18:30 Philippines  0–7  United States 5 The Village Dallas 1:26 256 Boxscore

Bracket

FinalRepechage
2 September – The Village Dallas
 Canada0
2 September – The Village Dallas
 United States7
 Mexico2
2 September – The Village Dallas
 Canada9
 Australia5
 Mexico6

Round Date Local
Time
Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game
duration
Attendance Boxscore
5th place match2 September 202410:30Ireland 0–4 Philippines7The Village Dallas1:3272Boxscore
3rd place match2 September 202413:00Australia 5–6 Mexico7The Village Dallas2:18130Boxscore
Final2 September 202415:30Canada 0–7 United States6The Village Dallas1:43180Boxscore
Repechage2 September 202418:30Mexico 2–9 Canada5The Village Dallas1:10132Boxscore

Finals rankings

The ranking of the wildcard spots for the finals stage are as follows.

  • 1) Hosts
  • 2)Top third-place team(s) in the Group Stage, based on final standings from the previous edition of the World Cup
  • 3)Top third-place team(s) in the Group Stage based on the highest position in the WBSC Rankings at the end of the previous calendar year.
Rank Team Previous WC Ranking Qualification
1 United States (H)60Qualified as hosts
2 Mexico43Qualified from previous World Cup ranking
3 New Zealand34

United States qualified for the finals as host of that stage, while Mexico qualified as the third placed team with the next best finish at the previous U-18 World Cup.

Finals

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  United States (H) 3 3 0 26 0 +26 1.000 Advance to Super Round
2  China 3 2 1 20 0 +20 .667 1
3  Chinese Taipei 3 1 2 18 3 +15 .333 2 Advance to Placement Round
4  Canada 3 0 3 3 19 16 .000 3
First match(es) will be played: 27 September 2025. Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head to head; 3) Head to head runs against; 4) Runs against; 5) Head to head
(H) Hosts

Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
27 September 2025 15:30 Canada  2–9  Chinese Taipei 6 Devon Park - Venue 2 2:10 150 Boxscore
27 September 2025 15:30 China  0–6  United States 7 Oge Engery Field 1:41 0 Boxscore
27 September 2025 20:00 Chinese Taipei  0–9  United States 5 Oge Energy Field 1:50 250 Boxscore
28 September 2025 11:00 Canada  0–10  China 4 Devon Park - Venue 2 1:23 50 Boxscore
28 September 2025 15:30 China  4–1  Chinese Taipei 7 Devon Park - Venue 2 2:04 0 Boxscore
28 September 2025 18:30 United States  11–1  Canada 5 Devon Park - Venue 2 1:29 0 Boxscore

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  Japan 3 3 0 30 2 +28 1.000 Advance to Super Round
2  Mexico 3 1 2 8 29 21 .333 2
3  Czech Republic 3 1 2 11 9 +2 .333 2 Advance to Placement Round
4  Puerto Rico 3 1 2 7 13 6 .333 2
First match(es) will be played: 27 September 2025. Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head to head; 3) Head to head runs against; 4) Runs against; 5) Head to head

Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
27 September 2025 11:00 Mexico  7–8  Puerto Rico 9 Devon Park - Venue 2 2:38 0 Boxscore
27 September 2025 11:00 Japan  9–2  Czech Republic 5 Oge Energy Field 1:25 100 Boxscore
27 September 2025 20:00 Czech Republic  4–0  Puerto Rico 7 Devon Park - Venue 2 2:05 96 Boxscore
28 September 2025 11:00 Mexico  0–13  Japan 4 Oge Energy Field 0:56 0 Boxscore
28 September 2025 15:30 Puerto Rico  1–8  Japan 5 Oge Energy Field 1:15 0 Boxscore
28 September 2025 18:30 Czech Republic  5–9  Mexico 7 Oge Energy Field 2:07 45 Boxscore

Placement Round

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB
1  Czech Republic 3 2 1 2 6 4 .667
2  Canada 3 2 1 16 3 +13 .667
3  Puerto Rico 3 1 2 3 11 8 .333 1
4  Chinese Taipei 3 1 2 12 1 +11 .333 1
First match(es) will be played: 29 September 2025. Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head to head; 3) Head to head runs against; 4) Runs against; 5) Head to head

Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
29 September 2025 10:00  Puerto Rico 3–4  Canada 7 Oge Energy Field 1:53 0 Boxscore
29 September 2025 13:00  Chinese Taipei 1–6  Czech Republic 7 Oge Energy Field 1:53 85 Boxscore
30 September 2025 10:00  Puerto Rico 7–6  Chinese Taipei 7 Oge Energy Field 2:22 0 Boxscore
30 September 2025 13:00  Canada 12–1  Czech Republic 5 Oge Energy Field 1:42 107 Boxscore

Super Round

Pos Team Pld W L RF RA RD PCT GB Qualification
1  United States 3 3 0 15 4 +11 1.000 Advance to Final
2  Japan 3 2 1 4 10 6 .667 1
3  China 3 1 2 7 3 +4 .333 2 Advance to Third place play-off
4  Mexico 3 0 3 3 9 6 .000 3
First match(es) will be played: 29 September 2025. Source: WBSC
Rules for classification: 1) Wins/losses; 2) Head to head; 3) Head to head runs against; 4) Runs against; 5) Head to head

Date Local time Road team Score Home team Inn. Venue Game duration Attendance Boxscore
29 September 2025 18:00  China 7–3  Mexico 7 Oge Energy Field 18:09 0 Boxscore
29 September 2025 19:00  United States 5–4  Japan 7 Oge Energy Field 1:32 0 Boxscore
30 September 2025 16:00  China 0–5  Japan 7 Oge Energy Field 1:35 0 Boxscore
30 September 2025 19:00  Mexico 2–10  United States 6 Oge Energy Field 1:36 205 Boxscore

Third place play-off

1 October 2025 11:00
Oge Energy Field
Team1234567RHE
 Mexico21001004111
 China0000011263
WP: Analia Nevaeh Lopez Valdivia   LP: Zhou Menghuan
Attendance: 350
Boxscore

Final

1 October 2025 14:00
Oge Energy Field
Team1234567RHE
 Japan0020000271
 United States003103X762
WP: Caroline Elizabeth Stanton   LP: Shion Yamamoto
Attendance: 300
Boxscore

Final standings

References

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