Pully, Switzerland, June 30, 2021: Host nation Japan will open the six-team Tokyo 2020 baseball competition against the Dominican Republic at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium on Wednesday, July 28, the World Baseball Softball Confederation announced on June 28.
World No. 1 Japan, No. 5 Mexico and No. 7 Dominican Republic will start the Tokyo 2020 tournament in Group A.
The 2008 defending Olympic gold medallists, world No. 3 Korea, as well as No. 4 USA and No. 24 Israel will compete in Group B.
The schedule is:
Wed, 28 Jul: DOM vs. JPN at 12:00 p.m. - Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium
Thu, 29 Jul: ISR vs. KOR at 7:00 p.m. - Yokohama Stadium
Fri, 30 Jul: MEX vs. DOM at 12:00 p.m. - Yokohama Stadium
Fri, 30 Jul USA vs ISR at 7:00 p.m. - Yokohama Stadium
Sat, 31 Jul: JPN vs. MEX at 12:00 p.m. - Yokohama Stadium
Sat, 31 Jul: KOR vs. USA at 7:00 p.m. - Yokohama Stadium
The knockout stage will take place from 1-4 August and have a double-elimination format. The first-place teams from the group stage will advance directly into what is essentially a quarterfinal on Monday, 2 August.
The two second-place finishers from the opening round and the two third-place finishers will play each other on Sunday, 1 August to open the knockout stage, with the winners of those two contests advancing to the other quarterfinal. The losers' bracket will give another chance for teams to advance.
Winners of the two quarterfinals will meet in the first semifinal game on Wednesday, 4 August, which will send one team to the gold medal game, while the loser will be placed in the second semifinal on Thursday, 5 August. The teams advancing from losers' bracket will determine the other semifinalist.
The medal games are scheduled for Saturday, 7 August.