The best women's baseball players will compete in Florida ©WBSC

The World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC) 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup will be staged in Viera in the United States, it has been announced.

It follows the governing body awarding the hosting rights for the competition to the Florida-based United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).

The USSSA is a multi-sport organisation and an associate member of the WBSC.

They are due to host the eighth edition of the Women's Baseball World Cup at their Space Coast Complex venue between August 17 and 26 next year.

The WBSC made their decision on day one of their Congress in Botswana's capital Gaborone today.

The WBSC made the decision at their Congress in Gaborone ©WBSC
The WBSC made the decision at their Congress in Gaborone ©WBSC

"This marks the first time that the Women's Baseball World Cup will be staged in the United States," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. 

"The USSSA has tremendous experience in organising elite-level events across multiple sports, and I am confident the new USSSA Space Coast Complex will be an ideal setting for the biggest stage and best players in women's baseball."

Japan are the holders of the World Cup title after beating Canada in the 2016 final in Gijang in South Korea.

"USSSA is excited and honoured to have been awarded the hosting rights to our very first national team event and official baseball World Championship, the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018," said USSSA chief executive Don DeDonatis.