IWBC and Illinois Event Resumé to Now Include Women’s Baseball World Cup for First Time Ever
ROCKFORD, Ill., June 10, 2025 – As announced today, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has officially awarded the hosting rights of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026 to the International Women’s Baseball Center (IWBC) in Rockford, Ill., USA.
Scheduled for Summer 2026, Group Stage play will mark the first time ever that the Women’s Baseball World Cup is held in Illinois and only the second time in the United States.
“We are delighted to take the Women’s Baseball World Cup back to the United States,” said WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari. “The 2018 edition at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, Florida, attracted unprecedented attention and helped players and younger fans reconnect with the history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 2026, the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup will land in Rockford, Illinois, where that legend started. It will be a memorable experience for the whole WBSC family and the international women’s baseball community.”
As the world’s only nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and advancement of women’s and girls baseball, IWBC collaborated with the WBSC, local and national partners on a multi-year bid process. Alongside GoRockford as IWBC’s domestic title partner, the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026 will be played next summer at Rivets Stadium in neighboring Loves Park, Ill. In addition, IWBC and WBSC will activate World Cup programming at venues across the region, including Rockford’s historic Beyer Stadium.
“When the International Women’s Baseball Center came to Rockford in 2016, we promised to bring the world to this community – well get ready, here they come,” said Dr. Kat Williams, IWBC CEO. “The IWBC is excited to partner with GoRockford, the City of Rockford, Rockford University, Rockford Park District and the Rockford Rivets to host the very best of women’s baseball next summer.”
The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup is the most prestigious women’s baseball event in the world, adding to IWBC’s growing resumé of programs that drive economic, brand and community impact locally and globally. A two-stage program over consecutive years, the 10th edition of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup concludes in Summer 2027 with the six-team Final Stage – which IWBC and Rockford remain a finalist to host.
“This is a landmark moment for Rockford and a proud milestone for GoRockford. Hosting the Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026 puts our community on the global stage and reaffirms our deep commitment to advancing women’s sports,” said John Groh, president/CEO of GoRockford. “The prestige of this tournament brings powerful economic, reputational and civic benefits to our region – while honoring the legacy of the Rockford Peaches and inspiring and supporting the next generation of athletes. We’re proud to
stand with the International Women’s Baseball Center in championing this historic event and can’t wait to welcome the world to Rockford.”
IWBC’s impact extends through a myriad of programs including: educational symposia; celebrating cultural icons like the Rockford Peaches and the acclaimed film A League of Their Own; hosting community block parties and youth clinics; and cultivating global opportunities like the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup. Moreover, IWBC and Rockford – a city affectionately known as “The Cradle of Baseball” – are poised to deliver long-term impact for women’s and girls baseball and sports, as IWBC continues its quest to build a six-acre headquarter campus adjacent to Beyer Stadium. To date, IWBC has invested $2.5 million in this south Rockford project and neighborhood.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Rockford will host the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage. This is only the second time this prestigious global event has been held in the United States, and we’re ready to make a big splash,” said Tom McNamara, City of Rockford mayor. “From our deep baseball legacy to our passionate community, Rockford is the perfect stage for the world’s best to compete. We can’t wait to welcome the teams, fans and energy that come with it.”
Competition dates, ticket packages, community activations and more event information will be announced in the coming weeks. For the most current updates, follow IWBC’s World Cup digital home at www.IWBC.org, as well as IWBC and WBSC social channels. Moreover, the WBSC’s official Women’s Baseball World Cup website can be followed HERE.
In addition to the WBSC and GoRockford (domestic title partner), IWBC would like to thank all of its World Cup Group Stage sponsors to date including: Rockford Park District (practice sites, Beyer Stadium activations), Rockford Rivets (games site) and Rockford University (team housing, practice site). Partnership opportunities for the WBSC World Cup Group Stage 2026 are available – contact [email protected] for more information.
About IWBC: At the International Women’s Baseball Center, education is the cornerstone of our mission to protect, preserve, and promote all aspects of women’s baseball, both on and off the field. We strive to inspire the next generation of players by helping them realize their dreams of not only participating in the sport, but also of passing on all they learn and achieve for generations to come. For more information, visit www.IWBC.org.
Media Contacts: Dr. Kat Williams, CEO, International Women’s Baseball Center, [email protected], 304.617.4474; Nick Povalitis, founder, Plus Seven Company, [email protected], 815.708.1644.