Canada will enjoy home-field advantage at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Toronto was announced Monday in Tokyo as one of four cities to host first-round games during the second World Baseball Classic, slated for 2009.
Canada celebrates its upset victory over the United States in the preliminary round of the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
(Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)
Mexico City, San Juan and Tokyo were also selected.
The 16-nation tournament will switch from a round-robin to a double-elimination format during the first two rounds. Japan won the inaugural WBC in 2006, beating Cuba 10-6 in the final at San Diego, Calif.
Sites for the later rounds have not yet been announced. Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles is the leading candidate to host the semifinals and final.
"The 2009 World Baseball Classic will further demonstrate the remarkable global growth of our game," said Bud Selig, Major League Baseball's commissioner.
"There has been incredible demand to host the games of the second World Baseball Classic."
Canada, the United States, Venezuela and Italy will play in Group C at Toronto from March 8-12.
China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan will play in Group A in Tokyo from March 5-9.
Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa will play in Group B at Mexico City's Foro Sol Stadium from March 8-12.
The Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico will play in Group D in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 7-11.
With files from the Associated Press
