The WBSC has revealed the pools and official game schedule for the 2017 Junior Women's Softball World Championship in Clearwater in Florida ©WBSC

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has revealed the pools and official game schedule for the 2017 Junior Women's Softball World Championship in Clearwater in Florida.

A record 26 nations are set to compete in this year's edition of women's youth softball's flagship event, scheduled to take place from July 24 to 30, have been drawn into four pools and will play a round-robin to begin the world tournament.

Host and defending champions United States have been drawn into Pool A along with Chinese Taipei, Guatemala, Italy, the Philippines, Turkey and South Africa.

Five-time champions and 2015 runners-up Japan headline Pool B which also features Australia, The Bahamas, Brazil, Israel, The Netherlands and Peru.

Puerto Rico, who finished third two years ago, are joined in Pool C by Argentina, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, India and New Zealand.

Pool D consists of Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Korea, Mexico and China, the gold medallists in 1985.

The official tournament schedule is made up of a total of 99 games, which will be played over seven days.

Opening Ceremonies are due to be held at the Sheraton Sand Key beach on July 23. 

All participating national teams will be competing the following day as action gets underway.

Hosts United States are the defending champions ©WBSC
Hosts United States are the defending champions ©WBSC

Days one to four will feature round-robin action in each pool with nations battling to finish among the top two in their respective groups to advance into the two-pool Championship round-robin. 

Nations finishing third and fourth in pool play will be put in a placement pool and play in a double-page system to determine ninth to 16th place.

Those finishing lower than fourth place in their respective pools will compete against each other in a single-elimination format for 17th to 26th Place.

Days five and six will see the championship section through the double-page play-off and the placement section continuing through either a double-page or single-elimination format depending on teams' round-robin finishes.

Day seven will showcase the bronze and gold medal games as well as the placement round final.

The full official schedule can be accessed by clicking here

The World Championship will offer web-streaming and play-by-play coverage.

All packages to watch the tournament - both in person and through web-streaming - are available through the tournament website here