Two-time defending champion Japan and Cuba will face off in the first round of pool play in next year's World Baseball Classic. Home-field advantage: Japan.
Japan will host first and second rounds of pool play at two sites in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, which features a new qualifying format rather than the invitation-only system of the first two events.
The top 12 nations from the last WBC were already in, then the other four determined from 28 teams through qualifying. The WBC winner will be named world champion for the first time.
The first round games for Pool A will be held in Fukuoka from March 2-6 with Japan, China, Cuba and a qualifier to be determined. The second round moves to the Tokyo Dome.
"Cuba was a good fit in Japan," WBC President Paul Archey said. "Somebody is going to have to go to Asia and play."
The WBC announced its venues and pools Tuesday outside the Giants' AT&T Park, which will host the semifinals and championship game in the event's third run.
Canada qualified Sunday. Two more qualifying teams are still to be determined in November, with rosters scheduled to be announced Dec. 3 at the baseball winter meetings in Nashville.
Players will be subject to drug testing by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, will host games for the third time at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Those games will be played March 7-10 featuring Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and a qualifier.
The Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field and the club's shared Scottsdale spring training facility with the Rockies, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, hosts Pool D games between the U.S., Italy, Mexico and a qualifier.
"It would help to have the U.S. in the final game, which he haven't had yet," Archey said.
Taichung, Taiwan, will stage the event for the first time. Those games at Intercontinental Stadium will be in Pool B from Mary 2-5, featuring Australia, Korea, the Netherlands and a qualifier.
