(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
WBSC and AWSN Announce Multi-Year Deal to Broadcast Women’s Softball and Baseball World Cups
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN) have announced a multi-year partnership to provide live global television coverage of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027 and the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2026/2027.
The agreement will begin on June 16 with coverage of the Women’s Softball World Cup matches scheduled in Prague, Czech Republic. The partnership aims to expand international viewership and increase visibility for women’s baseball and softball competitions worldwide.
Olympic Qualification Importance
The upcoming WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026/2027 carries added significance, as it will serve as the first qualification event for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The tournament will play a key role in determining teams that advance toward Olympic participation.
Tournament Structure
A total of 18 national teams will compete in the Women’s Softball World Cup, divided into three groups of six teams. Group-stage matches will be held across three host cities:
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Lima, Peru
- Oklahoma City, USA
The group stage will take place between June and September in a round-robin format.
The top six teams across all groups, along with two wildcard entries, will qualify for the final stage of the competition. The finals will be held in Redcliffe, Australia, from April 5–11, 2027.
Expanding Global Coverage
AWSN, which broadcasts women’s sports content across more than 60 countries, will serve as the primary global television partner for the tournaments. The network aims to increase access to women’s sports programming and showcase top international talent.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to growing women’s sports and improving global visibility for athletes.
AWSN CEO George Chung highlighted the importance of bringing international women’s baseball and softball competitions to a wider audience, particularly as teams prepare for Olympic qualification.
About WBSC and AWSN
The WBSC governs international baseball and softball competitions, including World Cups across multiple age groups and disciplines, and oversees the sports’ presence in the Olympic Games.
AWSN is a global sports network dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, offering thousands of hours of live coverage annually across multiple platforms.
The partnership is expected to strengthen global exposure for women’s baseball and softball as both sports continue to grow internationally.
