ROCKFORD, Ill.—Rockford will host the 2026 Baseball For All (BFA) Nationals, the nation’s largest girls’ baseball tournament, from July 19–25, coinciding with the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) Players Association Reunion.
The overlapping events will make Rockford the center of the women’s and girls’ baseball world, bringing together future stars, elite athletes, and pioneers of the sport for one historic week.
“We’re thrilled to bring Baseball For All Nationals back to Rockford and celebrate three generations of baseball players: the girls playing at BFA Nationals, the players competing at the WBSC World Cup Qualifiers, and the women from the AAGPBL who paved the way for us all,” says Justine Siegal, PhD, founder of Baseball For All. “This unique opportunity allows our players to compete and be inspired by the best women in the world, reminding them that baseball is truly a game for everyone.”
The BFA Nationals are expected to draw more than 800 players and coaches from across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and beyond. Games will take place at Rockford’s top-tier facilities, including historic Beyer Stadium, former home of the Rockford Peaches and now the headquarters of the International Women’s Baseball Center.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage will run July 22–27 at Rivets Stadium, marking just the second time the event has been held in the United States. The AAGPBL Players Association Reunion will take place July 22–26, bringing together former trailblazers of the sport.
“This will be a powerful week for baseball,” says Kat Williams, PhD, CEO of the International Women’s Baseball Center. “From young girls picking up bats and gloves to the best women in the world taking the field, Rockford will shine as a city that honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future of women in baseball.”
GoRockford, the tournament’s title sponsor, expects the events to elevate the region’s profile in sports tourism.
“Hosting this tournament during the same week as the Women’s Baseball World Cup is a perfect alignment of purpose,” says John Groh, president and CEO of GoRockford. “It highlights our commitment to gender equity in sports, supports the next generation of female players, and elevates Rockford’s national reputation in sports tourism.”
More information, including hotel partners and event programming, will be announced in early 2026.
