Philippines replace Uganda in WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group Lima
World No. 13 the Philippines has been given a wild card to participate in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage 2026, replacing No. 53 Uganda, who failed to meet the Participation Agreement deadline. The Philippines will compete in Group Lima, scheduled from 14 to 18 July, 2026 in the Peruvian capital.
The Blu Girls will play against No. 1 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 12 Great Britain, No. 16 Venezuela, and No. 18 Peru in Lima.
This will mark the Philippines’ ninth participation in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup and their second consecutive appearance. In 2023, they competed in Group C, finishing fourth in Butrio and Castions di Strada, behind Japan, Canada, and hosts Italy.
The Philippines are one of only eight nations to have won a medal at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup. They claimed the bronze medal in Osaka in 1970, during their first-ever appearance in the tournament. Four years later, they finished fourth in Stratford, USA.
The Women’s Softball World Cup will serve as the first qualifier for the LA28 Olympic Games. The Philippines will therefore have the opportunity to secure an Olympic berth through this event. The highest-placed team in the World Cup Finals, excluding the already qualified host nation USA, will earn a spot at LA28.
The Blu Girls have been a permanent fixture in the Asian Games, participating in six of the last seven editions, including the last four consecutively. Having qualified for the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026, they will aim to claim their first-ever medal at the event. In 2025 they also secured a record-setting 11th consecutive gold medal at de South East Asian Games, defeating No. 22 Singapore, 4-1.
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup will be played using the two-stage format, with the Group Stage taking place in 2026 and the Finals in 2027.
Group Prague will open the tournament in Czechia from 16 to 20 June, 2026. Group Lima will follow in the Peruvian capital, from 14 to 18 July 2026 at the Villa María del Triunfo Softball Stadium. The Group Stage will conclude in Oklahoma City, USA, from 12 to 16 September 2026 at OKC Softball Park (Devon Park), the venue of the LA28 Olympic softball competition.
The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals will be held at Talobilla Park in Redcliffe, less than an hour north of Brisbane, from 5 to 11 April 2027.
The top two teams from each group of the Group Stage will advance to the World Cup Finals along with two Wild Card* Teams.
** The Wild Card criteria for the Finals is as follows:
- Criterion 1: 1 Wild Card spot secured for the host country. If this criterion does not settle it, then the next criteria will be used;
- Criterion 2: The top 3rd place team(s) in the Group Stage based on final standings from the previous World Cup edition qualify for the World Cup Finals. If this criterion does not settle it (for example, if none of the 3rd place finishers participated in the last World Cup), then the next criterion will be used;
- Criterion 3: The top 3rd place team(s) in the Group Stage based on the highest position in the WBSC Rankings at the end of the previous calendar year qualify for the World Cup Finals.