Panama to face Cuba in World Baseball Classic

Havana, October 18 (RHC)-- Panama will face Cuba in Group A of the fifth World Baseball Classic, to be held next March, according to an announcement made Monday by Major League Baseball of the United States, organizer of the event.

In addition to the Cuban squad, the Isthmian team will play in the first round against the host team of Taipei, China, the Netherlands and Italy.

This key will be played at the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, from March 8 to 12, 2023.

Panama's participation in this edition of the tournament will mark its third time in the competition; however, the first two participations of the Canaleros (2006 and 2009) were by invitation.

Another Central American team, Nicaragua, will be part of Zone D along with Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Israel, from March 11 to 15 in Miami, United States.

Section B will take place from March 9 to 13 in Tokyo, with Japan, South Korea, Australia, China and the Czech Republic.

Group C matches will be played March 11-15 between the defending champion United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and the United Kingdom in Arizona.

Panama, Nicaragua, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic were among the teams that earned their tickets to the Classic in qualifying competitions held last month.

Miami's LoanDepot Park will host the North American quarterfinals, which include the teams advancing from Groups C and D, on March 17-18, while the semifinals and finals of the World Classic will be played on March 19-21.