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Dodger Stadium will serve as host of the semifinals and finals of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Thursday.

Citing anonymous sources not authorized to talk publicly ahead of an announcement, the newspaper reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers will tentatively host the championship round of the tournament from March 21 to 23.

A formal announcement is expected on July 31 at Dodger Stadium and will include participation of baseball officials Bob DuPuy and Paul Archey, the paper said.

Mexico City, San Juan, Tokyo and Toronto were selected in March to host first-round games during the second World Baseball Classic, slated to begin play in early March 2009.

The 16-nation tournament will switch from a round-robin to a double-elimination format during the first two rounds. Japan won the initial WBC in 2006, beating Cuba 10-6 in the final at San Diego.

The four first-round venues are the Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the United States will play; Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico; the Tokyo Dome; and Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City.

The U.S. team, which was a disappointment when it did not reach the WBC final round in 2006, will face fairly strong competition from Canada and Venezuela in its pool, along with Italy.

Unlike 2006, teams that advance from the second round will cross over for the semifinals and face opponents from the other side of the bracket.