According to sources, a pre-World Baseball Classic will be played in February 2025. The event will take place in mid-February at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, as teams look to recapture their tickets to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The teams that will have to requalify for entry are Chinese Taipei, Colombia, China, and Nicaragua. World Baseball Classic Qualifiers have historically been a double-elimination tournament split between two to four pools. In 2006 and 2009, the 16 countries were pre-selected, with 2013 being the first year Qualifiers were introduced.
The 2023 WBC expanded from 16 teams to 20 teams. For the Qualifiers, two pools were formed, with six teams each, totaling 12 countries competing.
With the competition set to take place in February, the main question is whether we will see MLB players compete with their respective countries, as it would take place before Spring Training games. More details should be announced soon as teams prepare to launch rosters this fall or winter.
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WBN World Baseball Classic: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
Photo Credit: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Japan celebrates on the mound after striking out Mike Trout #27 of the United States, as Japan defeated the United States at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)
