Dodger Stadium to host 2017 World Baseball Classic final round

LOS ANGELES -- The final three games of the 2017 World Baseball Classic will be played at Dodger Stadium, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday, the second time Chavez Ravine will host the tournament’s championship.

The final round will be held March 20-22 at Dodger Stadium, which also hosted the final round in 2009.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers and the City of Los Angeles are excited to be selected as the host of the World Baseball Classic semi-finals and final,” said Dodgers president & CEO Stan Kasten. “Dodger Stadium and our great fans look forward to the finest players in the world competing for the WBC championship.”

The 16-team tournament begins on March 7, with teams split into pools of four teams each. Team USA is in Pool C, which begins play at Marlins Park in Miami from March 9-12. Should they advance, second round play will be at Petco Park in San Diego from March 14-18.

First round

Pool A: Australia, China, Cuba, Japan
March 7-10, Tokyo Dome, Japan

Pool B: Chinese Tapei, South Korea, Netherlands, winner of Brooklyn qualifier (Sept. 22-25)
March 7-10: Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea

Pool C: Canada Colombia, Dominican Republic, USA
March 9-12: Marlins Park, Miami

Pool D: Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
March 9-12: Estadio Charros de Jalisco, Mexico City

Second round

Top two teams from Pool A, top two teams from Pool B
March 12-15: Tokyo Dome, Japan

Top two teams from Pool C, top two teams from Pool D
March 14-18: Petco Park, San Diego

Championship round

Semifinals and finals
March 20-22: Dodger Stadium