Women’s Baseball World Cup event coming to the Rockford Region

LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Rockford’s bid to become the international center of women’s baseball is taking another big step forward. The Rockford Region will be hosting the Women’s Baseball World Cup next year. Local leaders broke the news Tuesday afternoon at Rivets Stadium.

Local ties to women’s baseball that began with the Rockford Peaches in the 1940’s and then were revived with the release of the move “A League of Their Own” in 1992 and then gained more traction with the announcement ten years ago of the creation of a women’s baseball museum here along with a restoration of Beyer Stadum, now have hit another level.

A Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage Event in will be held here in 2026.
It’s a natural fit.

“That is precisely what we said to the WBSC,” said Dr. Kat Williams, the CEO of the International Women’s Baseball Center. “Where else? Where else are you having this but here? They agreed.” 

Next July 22-27, the event will be held at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park. The games will involve many of the best women’s baseball players in the world. The top teams from this qualifier will advance to the World Cup Finals in 2027 which also could potentially be held in Rockford. Rockford is one of the finalist locations for that.

Next year’s Group Stage event will bring in 150 players from around the world along with 50 to 60 managers and coaches. Rockford University officials have agreed to open their dorms for the athletes and coaches to stay in. The University will also provide dining services for them.

GoRockford will be the domestic title sponsor for the World Cup Group Stage Event.
GoRockford realizes the economic boost this event will have for the region, but the benefit is more than monetary.

“Perhaps more important than economics is the reputational boost that we get,” said John Groh, President & CEO of GoRockford. “I think we’re all-in behind Rockford being the home of women’s baseball, the future home of that museum and the community center, and every one of these kinds of wins is a building block towards that bigger vision.”

Rockford Mayor John McNamara agrees. “Having an international stage, international eyes watching Rockford, that’s a big win.”

The hope is that this World Cup event will enhance the fundraising efforts for the International Women’s Baseball Museum in Rockford next to Beyer Stadium, the former home of the Peaches.

“I think it will have a huge impact,” said Williams. “We’re hoping so.”

While all the games will be played at Rivets Stadium, Dr. Williams says Beyer Stadium will likely be used for practices by the teams and for some ceremonial events.

The Women’s Baseball World Cup has only been held in the United States once before. That was in South Florida in 2018.