Six Teams Chase Three World Cup Spots
Six national teams will compete for three places in the 2027 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals when Group Rockford begins Wednesday at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park, Illinois.
The United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, China and Korea will each play five games in five days. The top three teams in the final standings will advance to next summer’s Finals, which will also be held in Rockford.
Tournament Snapshot
Location: Rivets Stadium, Loves Park, Illinois
Dates: July 22-26
Format: Six-team round robin
Games: 15 total, with three played each day
Game Times: 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Central
What’s at Stake: The top three teams advance to the 2027 World Cup Finals
Weather Date: July 27, if needed
The 2026-27 tournament is the 10th edition of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. The United States won the first two championships in 2004 and 2006, while Japan has captured the past seven.
Full Schedule (All times are Central.)
Wednesday, July 22
- 11 a.m.: Canada vs. Hong Kong, China
- 3 p.m.: Australia vs. Mexico
- 7 p.m.: United States vs. Korea
Thursday, July 23
- 11 a.m.: Australia vs. Hong Kong, China
- 3 p.m.: Korea vs. Canada
- 7 p.m.: Mexico vs. United States
Friday, July 24
- 11 a.m.: Hong Kong, China vs. Korea
- 3 p.m.: Mexico vs. Canada
- 7 p.m.: Australia vs. United States
Saturday, July 25
- 11 a.m.: Hong Kong, China vs. Mexico
- 3 p.m.: Korea vs. Australia
- 7 p.m.: United States vs. Canada
Sunday, July 26
- 11 a.m.: Korea vs. Mexico
- 3 p.m.: Canada vs. Australia
- 7 p.m.: Hong Kong, China vs. United States
What's at Stake
Each team will face every other country in the group once. There is no elimination bracket, so the final round-robin standings will determine which three teams move forward.
Those qualifiers will join the top three finishers from the second group, scheduled for August in Tainan. The six remaining teams will return to Rockford in 2027 to compete for the world championship.
The compact schedule will also test each team’s pitching depth and roster versatility. With five games in five days, one difficult inning or one missed opportunity could influence the final standings.
WPBL Talent on Display
Group Rockford will provide an international preview of the inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League season. Twenty-six signed WPBL players are included across five of the six national-team rosters, and many will move almost immediately from competition in Rockford to their professional teams in Springfield, where the WPBL season begins Aug. 1.
The United States roster features eight WPBL players: Kelsie Whitmore, Jill Albayati, Denae Benites, Kate Blunt, Alexia Jorge, Kylee Lahners, Ashton Lansdell and Meggie Meidlinger.
Canada brings nine signed players, the most of any team in the field: Madison Willan, Andréanne Leblanc, Michelle Roche, Raine Padgham, Jaida Lee, Alli Schroder, Ela Day-Bédard, Liz Gilder and Claire Eccles.
Australia’s roster includes Molly Paddison, Ticara Geldenhuis, Caitlin Eynon and Claire O’Sullivan.
Mexico will be represented by four signed WPBL players: Diana Ibarra, Rosi del Castillo, Edith De Leija and Maria José Valenzuela.
Korea catcher Hyeonah Kim, a member of the Boston Hunters, is also competing in Rockford.
Hong Kong, China does not have a signed WPBL player on its current roster.
Meet the Field
Rankings below reflect the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Ranking updated Dec. 31, 2025.
United States
World Ranking: No. 2
2024 World Cup Finish: Silver
The United States enters Group Rockford as the highest-ranked team in the field. Team USA won the first two Women’s Baseball World Cups and finished second to Japan at the 2024 Finals.
Its 20-player roster includes 14 national team veterans and six newcomers. Whitmore will make her 10th national team appearance, while Meidlinger will compete for the United States for the ninth time. The team will be managed by Mike Kinkade, who is making his managerial debut with the program.
Canada
World Ranking: No. 3
2024 World Cup Finish: Bronze
Canada secured its place in Rockford by sweeping Puerto Rico in a best-of-five qualifying series in May. Seventeen players return from that series, while 15 members of the roster have previous Women’s Baseball World Cup experience.
Thirteen players helped Canada earn bronze at the 2024 Finals. Claire Eccles will compete in her fourth World Cup, while Kyanna Faucher and Camille Proulx are set to make their national team debuts.
Mexico
World Ranking: No. 4
2024 World Cup Finish: Fourth
Mexico enters as the third top-five team in the Rockford field. The country reached the World Cup Finals for the first time in 2024 and came within one victory of the podium before falling to Canada in the bronze medal game.
That fourth-place finish established Mexico as a contender alongside the tournament’s more established powers. Its opening game against Australia and Thursday night matchup with the United States could quickly show whether the team is ready to take another step forward.
Australia
World Ranking: No. 10
National Team Name: Emeralds
Australia arrives with a roster built around versatility. Thirteen players have previous World Cup experience, 11 return from the 2023 team and seven are preparing to make their Emeralds debuts.
Eynon, a 23-year-old shortstop and right-handed pitcher, will captain the team. Veteran Bronwyn Gell is preparing for her sixth World Cup and is the only current Emerald with multiple World Cup medals, earning silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014.
Hong Kong, China
World Ranking: No. 8
2025 Asian Cup Finish: Bronze
Hong Kong earned its place in Group Rockford by finishing third at the 2025 BFA Women’s Baseball Asian Cup. The team recovered from an 0-3 Super Round to defeat Korea 6-5 in the bronze medal game.
Hong Kong also defeated Korea 9-8 during the 2023 World Cup group stage, giving the countries a recent history of close international matchups. They will meet again Friday morning in Rockford.
Korea
World Ranking: No. 12
2025 Asian Cup Finish: Fourth
Korea finished one position behind Hong Kong at the 2025 Asian Cup. The team defeated Hong Kong 14-3 during the Super Round before losing the rematch by one run in the bronze medal game.
Korea will immediately face one of the tournament favorites, opening against the United States on Wednesday night. Games against Canada and Australia will follow before the anticipated rematch with Hong Kong.
Key Storylines
Can the United States return to the top?
Team USA has not won the World Cup since 2006 but enters Rockford with a roster filled with national team experience and many of the most recognizable players in the WPBL.
Will Canada continue its recent success?
Canada brings back much of the team that earned bronze in 2024 and enters only four ranking points behind the United States.
Is Mexico ready for the podium?
After reaching the final four in 2024, Mexico has an opportunity to prove that result was the beginning of sustained international success.
Can Australia return to the Finals?
The Emeralds finished one position short of advancing from the 2023 group stage. Their blend of veterans, debutants and two-way players gives them another opportunity in Rockford.
What happens when Hong Kong and Korea meet again?
Their past two major meetings have produced one win for each country, including a one-run Asian Cup bronze medal game.
Saturday night could shape the standings.
The United States and Canada, the silver and bronze medalists from 2024, meet at 7 p.m. in the fourth game of the tournament for both teams.
How to Watch
All 15 games are scheduled to stream through GameTime.Sport, the WBSC’s streaming platform. The service already lists each Group Rockford matchup in its upcoming schedule.
Fans attending in person can purchase:
- Single-game ticket: $10 plus fees
- One-day pass: $25 plus fees
- All-week pass: $95 plus fees
- Children 6 and younger: Free with a ticketed adult
Photo Credit: wbsc.org