12 teams will start into the WBSC VIII Women’s Baseball World Cup in Viera, Florida on Wednesday. The tournament will be played through August 31 at the USSSA Space Sports Complex, the former Spring Training home of the Washington Nationals.
Japan has won the last five editions of the Women’s Baseball World Cup after the United States had claimed first place in the first two. Canada and Venezuela finished second and third two years ago in Busan, Korea.
Group A features host USA, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Europe’s lone representative Netherlands and Puerto Rico. In Group B Japan, Canada, Australia, Cuba, Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic are slotted.
The preliminary round will be played through August 26. Afterwards the top three of each pool advance to the Super Round Robin. Afterwards the top two advance to the finals.
The 2018 Women’s Baseball World Cup will feature a 90-second limit between innings and 12 seconds between pitches. Additionally, managers will have the opportunity to use one instant replay challenge per game with umpires having the opportunity to check in the sixth and seventh innings.
All games will be streamed live through WBSC’s YouTube Channel.