The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has awarded Italy hosting rights for the 2025 Softball World Cup and the 2026 Baseball World Cup. Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball President Andrea Marcon said, "I am particularly proud of these awards, not only because it is a recognition of the organizational work that our movement has been able to implement in recent years, but also and above all for the precious promotional opportunity that world events guarantee us towards the public, the media and the institutions for which I would really like to thank the WBSC."
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari commented, “We were impressed by the organization of the Italians hosting last year's Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage C, and we look forward to the finals in Italy in the next few days with enthusiasm. The organization of the U15 Softball World Cups in 2025 and U15 Baseball World Cups in 2026 continues Italy's notable commitment to international events in hosting world competitions for four consecutive years."
The U15 Softball World Cup will experience its second edition in history. The first one was held in 2023 in Japan, where Team USA beat Puerto Rico in the final. Team Italy finished ninth in the 2023 international tournament but has since gained access to the U15 Softball World Cup as a result of a second-place finish in the 2024 U15 European Softball Championship.
Italy will host the seventh edition of the U15 Baseball World Cup, which will follow this year’s competition from August 26-September 4, 2024 in Colombia, where Team Italy will also field a U15 squad. The WBSC U15 Baseball World Cup replaced the WBSC World Youth Baseball Championship competition, which was previously reserved for U16 category athletes and held for 13 editions from 1989 to 2011.
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
