International Women’s Baseball Center in Rockford, USA to host WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2026/2027 Group Stage

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has officially awarded the hosting rights of one of the two groups of the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2026/2027 to the International Women’s Baseball Centre (IWBC) in Rockford, IL, USA.

Rockford will host the group stage tournament from July 22 to 26, 2026.

Located 90 minutes northwest of Chicago, Rockford was the home of the legendary Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. It was also home to the Rockford Citys, one of the first professional baseball teams in the late 19th century.

"We are delighted to take the Women's Baseball World Cup back to the United States," commented 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, were that legend started. It will be a memorable experience for the whole WBSC family and the international women's baseball community."

It will be the second time USA welcomes the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup after Viera, Florida hosted the 2018 edition. The late Shirley Burkovich (1933-2022; she played for the Peaches in 1951) and Maybelle Blair (who celebrated her 98th birthday in January) and IWBC staff and board members attended the tournament in Viera on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of A League of Their Own, the movie (directed by Penny Marshall, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna) that celebrated the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.

“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.”

IWBC will be in charge of the Local Organizing Committee.

Rivets Stadium, home of the Rockwood Rivets in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer league, will serve as the host venue.. Port Arthur Stadium, the venue for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2023/2024 Finals, is also home to the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the same league.

Rivets Stadium opened in 2006 as the home of the Rockford Riverhawks of the independent Frontier League. The Rivets took over the stadium in the fall of 2015. It has 3,279 seats and can host crowds of over 4,000. The field measured 380 feet (115.8 metres) in centre field and 312 feet (95 metres) at the corners.

The baseball fields at Rockford University and Mercyhealth Sportscore Two will serve as the practice fields.