The Softball World Cup will return to Australia in 2027. Six decades after the first edition, held in Melbourne in 1965, the world's eight best teams will compete at Talobilla Park in the town of Redcliffe, a few kilometers north of Brisbane. This will be a major event on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and a crucial step towards the sport's inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 program.
Already six appearances at the Olympic Games
World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari called the award "a historical moment ". " This World Cup is a link between the past and the future. This tournament will highlight Australia's strong passion for softball and the sport's deep roots in this country. " he says, without hiding his wish to see softball in Brisbane 2032.
« We want to see more global sporting events in Queensland over the next seven years, leading up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Women's Softball World Cup is a perfect fit., welcomes Tim Mander, Queensland Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This sport has a long Olympic history, having been included in the Games in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020, and it is fantastic to see it return to the 2028 Games. » An asset that will not do everything.
🇦🇺🥎 Redcliffe, Australia to host WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in 2027
- WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 20, 2025
🗣️ "We're thrilled with the announcement of Redcliffe as host of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2027" - @WBSCPresident #SoftballWorldCupW https://t.co/gjg9vKfzN2
An opportunity to flex your muscles
The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee has announced that it will select sports based on their global representation, popularity, and revenue-generating potential. Softball is far from providing the same guarantees as other sports, even though " more than 137 countries play internationally and there are billions of viewers " insists Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh. She acknowledges that the main selling point of her sport remains " its rich history " on the Olympic stage. The 2027 World Cup, however, represents a golden opportunity to showcase the value of softball, its sporting interest, and its ability to attract audiences and generate revenue.
The 2024 World Cup in Italy generated more than 64 million views. Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery expects " a global television audience of approximately 60 million people " in 2027, driven by the popularity of this sport in Japan, South Korea and the United States. A good foundation, on which we will have to build. Olympian Tanya Harding, four-time medalist with the Australian softball team between 1996 and 2008, explained the challenge to ABC: " We struggle to compete with the major professional sports, rugby, Australian rules football, which all have strong women's programs. We don't have the same resources. If we're not here in 2032, I'm not sure what will happen to softball after that, especially for young girls. »
