Italy are holding a six-day training camp in Florida ©Getty Images

Italy are training in the United States as they look to step up preparations for hosting this year's Women's Softball World Cup Group C.

A total of 18 players have been selected for the six-day training camp held at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Olympians Elisa Cecchetti, Marta Gasparotto, Alexia Lacatena, Giulia Longhi, Fabrizia Marrone and Erika Piancastelli are among those in the squad.

During their stay in Florida, the Italian squad is staging training sessions in the morning and inter-squad games in the afternoon.

The camp, which started on Tuesday (January 3) and is due to finish tomorrow, comes with six months to go until Italy begin their World Cup campaign.


Castions di Strada and Butrio in Italy is set to hold Group C matches from July 22 to 26 before hosting the World Cup Finals in 2024.

Italy, ranked number eight in the world, are due to face Canada, Venezuela, New Zealand, the top team from the Asian qualifier and a wild card in Group C.

Group A is scheduled to be held from July 11 to 15 in Dublin in Ireland followed by Group B from July 18 to 22 in Valencia in Spain.

The top two teams in the final standings of each group, plus two wild cards, will advance to the Softball World Cup Finals in 2024.

As host team, Italy is the only qualified team for the final stages.