Dates and locations for the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic revealed

Dates and locations for the fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic revealed
07/07/2022
For the first time ever, Team Italy will begin play in the WBC Taichung, Taiwan elimination phase with hopes of advancing to the Asia quarterfinals in Tokyo, Japan. Azzurri manager Mike Piazza and his Italian squad will compete against host Chinese Taipei. Kingdom of the Netherlands, Cuba and the winner of the Regensburg, Germany Qualifier from March 9-13, 2023.

The fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic, which will award the title of world champion, will take place from March 9-21, 2023 and expand for the first time to 20 national teams from the previous 16-team format of 2017. In fact, the four additional teams will be determined by the two qualifying tournaments that will take place in Regensburg, Germany from September 16-21, 2022 and in Panama City, Panama from September 30-October 5, 2022.

The national teams competing in the WBC Qualifier in Regensburg, Germany include Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Great Britain, and South Africa. The national teams competing in the WBC Qualifier in Panama City, Panama include Panama, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, New Zealand.

For the Italian national team, led by Mike Piazza, the most important news is that the elimination round will take place for the first time in Asia at the Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan. In previous editions of the World Baseball Classic, the Azzurri had played in Orlando, Florida (2006), Toronto, Canada (2009), Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona (2013) and Guadalajara, Mexico (2017).

Team Italy (ranked 17th) will be playing in Group A with Chinese Taipei (ranked 2nd), Cuba (ranked 9th), Kingdom of the Netherlands (ranked 8th) and one of the winners of the Regensburg, Germany qualifying tournament. The two top teams from Group A will advance to the WBC Quarterfinals in Tokyo, Japan.

The Tokyo Dome, which hosted the finals of Premier 12 in 2009, will host Group B featuring host Japan (ranked 1st), Korea (ranked 3rd), Australia (ranked 10th), China (ranked 21st) and one of the WBC Qualifier winners from March 9-13, 2023.

Group C takes place at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona from March 11-15, 2023 and features defending WBC champion USA (ranked fifth), Mexico (ranked 4th), Colombia (ranked 11th), Canada (ranked 12th) and one of the WBC Qualifier winners.

Group D takes place at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida from March 11-15, 2023 and features Venezuela (ranked 6th), Dominican Republic (ranked 7th), Puerto Rico (ranked 16th), Israel (ranked 20th) ) and one of the WBC Qualifier winners.

The two top teams from Groups A and B will advance to the WBC Quarterfinals in Tokyo, Japan from March 15-16, 2023. The two top teams from Groups C and D will advance to the WBC Quarterfinals in Miami, Florida from March 17-18, 2023. The WBC Semifinals and Finals will take place at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida from March 19-21, 2023. Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

(Photo of Team Italy celebrating the walk-off win over Mexico in the 2017 WBC by Jose Mendez / European Pressphoto Agency)