The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), together with the Peruvian Softball Federation (Federación Deportiva Nacional Peruana de Softbol, FDNPS) and the Peruvian Sports Institute (Instituto Peruano del Deporte, IPD), announced the postponement of this year's WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup to 2021 in consideration of the global health and safety measures and travel limitations pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic.  

"The health, safety and wellbeing of all participants remain our top priority." said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

The first edition of the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup - featuring a new age bracket, brand identity and tournament format created to replace the former U-19 Women's Softball World Championship, which dates back to 1981 - was originally set to take place from 23-30 August in Lima, Peru, but was postponed in April to unconfirmed dates later in the year due to the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
The elite international youth women's softball event was to be played at Villa Maria del Triunfo Complex, site of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games softball competitions.   

The 16 teams qualified to battle For the Title of World Champion in this age-category remains as follows:

  • Africa (1): No. 26 South Africa
  • Americas (5): No. 1 USA, No. 3 Canada, No. 4 Puerto Rico, No. 5 Mexico and No. 19 Peru (host)
  • Asia (3): No. 2 Japan, No. 6 Chinese Taipei and No. 7 China
  • Europe (3): No. 9 Netherlands, No. 10 Italy and No. 12 Czech Republic
  • Oceania (2): No. 8 Australia and No. 16 New Zealand
  • Wild Cards (2): No. 11 Philippines, No. 48 Colombia  

Due to the postponement of the tournament, WBSC has decided to make a one-time exception to expand the eligibility age at both ends, allowing all players that would have been eligible to participate in 2020 to represent their country in the 2021 tournament. The decision also allows the possibility of those turning age 14 in 2021 to be included in the roster.  Accordingly, those players born in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 will be eligible to participate in the 2021 U-18 Women's Softball World Cup.    

The WBSC and the LOC will continue monitoring the latest developments concerning the coronavirus and travel restrictions around the world and will confirm new dates for the postponed event at a later stage.   

/ WBSC press release
Andrea Andrian photos