^ I agree from a competitive balance stance having the 4 teams coming from different regions certainly makes sense.... but having continental qualifiers is more in line with the format of past classics, and would make it easier for slotting the 4th teams in regional groups like we have seen in the past.
2006:
Asia: China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea
North America: USA, Canada, Mexico, RSA
Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, Netherlands
Misc: Australia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Italy
2009:
Asia: China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea
Caribbean: DR,
PR, Panama, Netherlands
North America: USA, Canada, Venezuela, Italy
misc: Australia, Mexico, Cuba, RSA
well, looking at it, I guess the groups were more diverse in 2009 vs. 2006...... but still fairly renationalized.
I could see groups looking like this for 2013:
Japan, Australia, Italy, Qualifier
South Korea, China, Netherlands, Qualifier
Dominican Republic, USA, Venezuela, Qualifier
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Qualifier