Four teams set to make WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup debut in 2020

Four countries will make their debut when the 2020 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup takes place in Monterrey in September, it has been confirmed.

Hosts Mexico, China, France and the Philippines, all of whom are unranked, will join Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, six-time champions Japan, The Netherlands, the United States and Venezuela in the ninth edition of the biennial tournament from September 11 to 20.

It will be the third successive edition to feature 12 teams.

France were the first national team to qualify for the event after beating The Netherlands in the final of the inaugural Women's European Baseball Championship on home turf in Rouen last August.

Lahcène Benhamida was recently named as the country's women's national team manager.

The Netherlands, ranked 11th in the world, will participate in the Women's Baseball World Cup thanks to a wildcard from the WBSC Executive Board.

This year will mark the first time two European national teams have competed in the tournament.

Mexico qualified in August after they finished fourth when hosting the first-ever Pan-American Women's Baseball Championship in Aguascalientes.

Despite losing three games, Mexico had the two best pitchers in Rosa María del Castillo and Flor Elena Valerio.