The Women’s Softball World Cup will be held in Queensland in 2027.
State Sport, Racing and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander said the eight best teams in the world would contest the Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in the City of Moreton Bay in April of that year.
Minister Mander said four games would be played per day over six days, with the event marking a mega-year of World Cups in Queensland, that included the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
“Queensland will be front-and-centre on the world stage for the benchmark global softball event prior to the LA 2028 Olympic Games,” he said.
“We want to see more global sporting events call Queensland home over the next seven years to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Women’s Softball World Cup is a perfect fit.”
Minister Mander said softball had a strong Olympic history, having been included in the Games in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020, before returning in Los Angeles.
“We all remember the impact of the Matildas in 2023 and competing on home turf in a Softball World Cup in 2027 will inspire more young women to emulate their sporting heroes on the field.”
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said a new modern and accessible clubhouse at Talobilla Park, in Kippa-Ring, would be constructed ahead of the event, which will run from April 5-11.
Mayor Flannery said the $4.8 million clubhouse project would support more than 700 members in the Redcliffe Leagues Softball Association, adding the World Cup would help lift local participation in the sport and raise the City’s global profile.
“With eight countries competing, our community will get to see many of the sport’s greatest athletes in action while our local businesses will benefit from increased tourist activity,” he said.
“This event is expected to generate more than 10,500 visitor nights and contribute $6.3 million in economic spend.”
Mayor Flannery said the event was anticipated to attract a global TV audience of around 60 million and a similar social reach as softball was very strong in Japan, South Korea and the USA.
“The influx of visitors and global attention on our City will support our push for more hotel investment ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We’d love to see softball part of the 2032 Games, and we are investigating how we can support their push for inclusion in the sports program.”
Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells said the Softball World Cup was another great edition to the green and gold runway towards 2032.
“The Softball World Cup will build on our successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, the Women’s Asian Cup next year, the Netball World Cup in 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029,” Minister Wells said.
“This event means our Aussie Spirit side can have home support for what will be the first Softball World Cup in Australia since 1965.”
Softball Australia CEO Sarah Loh said the tournament would be a tremendous boost for the sport in Queensland.
“The return of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup to Australian soil is a powerful opportunity to inspire the next generation with Olympic dreams, boost grassroots participation and deliver lasting benefits to local communities,” Ms Loh said.
