IBAF Announces 2011 World Cup Qualifying Groups

Brna, Jun 11. -The International Baseball Amateur Federation (IBAF) and the Organizing Committee of the 39th World Championship Panama-2011 announced the qualifying groups of the tournament Friday.

The note, published in the IBAF official website, said that the contest will welcome 16 participant nations, and will take place from next October 2 to 15 in several Panamanian cities, specifically in Aguadulce, Chitré, Santiago and the capital.

The current world champion, United States, was included in Group 1, together to the teams of Japan (Champion in the 1st and 2nd World Baseball Classics), Chinese Taipei, Canada, Holland, Puerto Rico, Greece and the host team, Panama.

Group 2 includes the worldâ�Ös second best team, Cuba, accompanied by South Korea, Australia, Venezuela, Italy, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Germany.

In the official statement it was also said that the Japanese brand Mizuno will give the official balls for this event. (Prensa Latina)