The World Baseball Classic will return in 2023 with an expansion to 20 teams and venues in Japan, Taiwan and the United States, which will host the final in the city of Miami (Florida), organizers announced Thursday.

The fifth edition of this national team tournament, in which players from the United States Major Leagues and international talents participate, will be held from March 8 to 21, 2023.

The edition scheduled for 2021 was canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic . Previously, Japan triumphed in the inaugural event in 2006 and defended the crown in 2009 while the Dominican Republic and the United States prevailed in 2013 and 2017 respectively.

In 2023, the number of participants will expand for the first time from 16 to 20 teams.

The 16 teams that competed in the 2017 Clásico are invited, as well as the four that pass a qualifying phase that will take place in Germany and Panama later this year.

The United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Spain and the Czech Republic will compete for the pass in Regensburg (Germany) between September 16 and 21, 2022, while Pakistan, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina and Nicaragua will compete in Panama City between on September 30 and October 5.

El Clásico will kick off on March 8, 2023 in Taichung (Taiwan) with a group made up of the host team, Cuba, Italy, the Netherlands and a team to qualify.

Between March 9 and 13, Tokyo will host a bracket made up of the Japanese team, Australia, China, South Korea and a team to qualify.

In the United States, another group will compete from March 11 to 15 in Phoenix (Arizona) with the local team, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and another squad to qualify.

The last group will compete in Miami, also from March 11 to 15, with Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel and another group to qualify.

The top two teams from each bracket will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be divided between Tokyo (March 15-16) and Miami (March 17-18).

The semifinals and final will be held between March 19 and 21 at the stadium of the Major League Baseball Miami Marlins.

 

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