2026 World Baseball Classic

Last updated

2026 World Baseball Classic
WBC logo.svg
Tournament details
CountriesFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
DatesMarch 5–17, 2026
Teams20
←  2023

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is an international professional baseball tournament between 20 national baseball teams, planned to be the sixth iteration of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and to be played from March 5 to 17, 2026. [1] Its pool-play rounds will be played in Miami, Florida; Houston, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo, Japan. The quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston, and the semi-finals and finals will be played in Miami. [2]

Contents

Japan is the defending champion, having defeated the United States in the 2023 WBC championship game. [3]

Teams

Qualification

16 teams qualified for the 2026 WBC tournament by virtue of having placed in the top four of their respective pools in the 2023 World Baseball Classic tournament.

Four additional teams qualified through the 2026 WBC qualifying tournament. [4] [5] The qualifying tournament included 8 teams, downsized from the 12 teams that had competed in the 2023 WBC qualifiers. The first pool took place in Taipei, and included Chinese Taipei, Spain, Nicaragua, and South Africa; the second pool took place in Tucson, Arizona, and included Colombia, China, Brazil, and Germany. [6] The Taipei pool ran from February 21–25, 2025, and the Tucson pool ran from March 2-6. [7]

Colombia, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Chinese Taipei all qualified for the 2026 WBC. China failed to qualify for the first time in a major baseball tournament, as it was eliminated after it lost all three of its games in the qualifiers.

The 2026 WBC teams

The 20 national teams that have qualified to compete in the 2026 WBC are as follows:

Qualified teams
RegionTeamQualification
method		Prev.
apps		Previous best resultWBSC world
ranking1 [8]
Americas Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Qualifiers Pool B 2nd-place playoff winner1Pool stage (2013)23
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C 3rd place5Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023)22
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Qualifiers Pool B winner2Pool stage (2017, 2023)13
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A winner5Runners-up (2006)10
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D 3rd place5Champions (2013)11
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C winner53rd place (2023)4
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Qualifiers Pool A winner1Pool stage (2023)16
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A 4th place3Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2023)8
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D Runners-up5Runners-up (2013, 2017)9
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C Runners-up5Champions (2017)5
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D winner54th place (2009)3
Asia Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei Qualifiers Pool A Second-place playoff winner5Quarterfinals (2013)2
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B winner5Champions (2006, 2009, 2023)1
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B 3rd place5Runners-up (2009)6
Europe Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B 4th place1Pool stage (2023)15
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C 4th place1Pool stage (2023)18
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D 4th place2Quarterfinals (2017)19
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A Runners-up5Quarterfinals (2013, 2023)14
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A 3rd place54th place (2013, 2017)7
Oceania Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B Runners-up5Quarterfinals (2023)12

1 Ranking as of December 31, 2024

Venues

The main tournament will be held in four stadiums. [9]

Pool APool B & QuarterfinalsPool CPool D, Quarterfinals, Semis and Championship
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg San Juan, Puerto Rico Flag of the United States.svg Houston, United States Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo, Japan Flag of the United States.svg Miami, United States
Hiram Bithorn Stadium Daikin Park Tokyo Dome LoanDepot Park
Capacity: 18,264Capacity: 41,168Capacity: 45,600Capacity: 36,742
Hiram Bithorn Stadium.jpg Minute Maid Park 2016-04-23.jpg Interior of Tokyo Dome 201904b.jpg MarlinPark.jpg

Draw

The pools and schedule were announced on August 21, 2024. [10] The teams that advanced from the qualifiers were added on April 9, 2025. [11]

Pool A (12.4)Pool B (12.8)Pool C (7.2)Pool D (11.2)
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg San Juan Flag of the United States.svg Houston Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo Flag of the United States.svg Miami
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico (9)Flag of the United States.svg  United States (5)Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (1)Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela (3)
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba (10)Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico (4)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (12)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic (11)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (22)Flag of Italy.svg  Italy (14)Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (6)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (7)
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama (8)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain (18)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia (15)Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (19)
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia (13)Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (23)Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei (2)Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua (16)

Pool stage

Scheduled locations and dates are as follows: [11]

Pool A

PosTeamPldWLRFRAPCTGBQualification
1Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico (H)00000——Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 00000——
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 00000——
4Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 00000——
5Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 00000——
First games will be played: March 6, 2026. Source: MLB
(H) Hosts
DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 6, 2026  Cuba  Flag of Cuba.svg–Flag of Panama.svg  Panama   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 6, 2026  Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg–Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 7, 2026  Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg–Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 7, 2026  Panama  Flag of Panama.svg–Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 8, 2026  Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg–Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 8, 2026  Panama  Flag of Panama.svg–Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 9, 2026  Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg–Flag of Panama.svg  Panama   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 9, 2026  Cuba  Flag of Cuba.svg–Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 10, 2026  Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg–Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    
Mar 11, 2026  Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg–Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba   Hiram Bithorn Stadium    

Pool B

PosTeamPldWLRFRAPCTGBQualification
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States (H)00000——Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 00000——
3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 00000——
4Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 00000——
5Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 00000——
First games will be played: March 6, 2026. Source: MLB
(H) Hosts
DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 6, 2026  Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg–Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain   Daikin Park    
Mar 6, 2026  United States  Flag of the United States.svg–Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil   Daikin Park    
Mar 7, 2026  Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg–Flag of Italy.svg  Italy   Daikin Park    
Mar 7, 2026  Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg–Flag of the United States.svg  United States   Daikin Park    
Mar 8, 2026  Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg–Flag of Italy.svg  Italy   Daikin Park    
Mar 8, 2026  Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg–Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico   Daikin Park    
Mar 9, 2026  Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg–Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain   Daikin Park    
Mar 9, 2026  Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg–Flag of the United States.svg  United States   Daikin Park    
Mar 10, 2026  Italy  Flag of Italy.svg–Flag of the United States.svg  United States   Daikin Park    
Mar 11, 2026  Italy  Flag of Italy.svg–Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico   Daikin Park    

Pool C

PosTeamPldWLRFRAPCTGBQualification
1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (H)00000——Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 00000——
3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 00000——
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia 00000——
5Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 00000——
First games will be played: March 5, 2026. Source: MLB
(H) Hosts
DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 5, 2026  Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg–Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 5, 2026  Czechia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg–Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 6, 2026  Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg–Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 6, 2026  Japan  Flag of Japan.svg–Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 7, 2026  Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg–Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 7, 2026  South Korea  Flag of South Korea.svg–Flag of Japan.svg  Japan   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 8, 2026  Chinese Taipei  Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg–Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 8, 2026  Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg–Flag of Japan.svg  Japan   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 9, 2026  South Korea  Flag of South Korea.svg–Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia   Tokyo Dome    
Mar 10, 2026  Czechia  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg–Flag of Japan.svg  Japan   Tokyo Dome    

Pool D

PosTeamPldWLRFRAPCTGBQualification
1Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 00000——Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 00000——
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 00000——
4Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 00000——
5Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 00000——
First games will be played: March 6, 2026. Source: MLB
DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 6, 2026  Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg–Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 6, 2026  Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg–Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 7, 2026  Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg–Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 7, 2026  Israel  Flag of Israel.svg–Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 8, 2026  Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg–Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 8, 2026  Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg–Flag of Israel.svg  Israel   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 9, 2026  Dominican Republic  Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg–Flag of Israel.svg  Israel   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 9, 2026  Venezuela  Flag of Venezuela.svg–Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 10, 2026  Israel  Flag of Israel.svg–Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands   LoanDepot Park    
Mar 11, 2026  Dominican Republic  Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg–Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela   LoanDepot Park    

Knockout stage

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the single elimination bracket. Houston will host two quarterfinal games, while the other two quarterfinals and the rest of the tournament will take place in Miami. [11]

Bracket

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship
 
          
 
March 13 – Houston
 
 
Runner-up Pool A
 
March 15 – Miami
 
Winner Pool B
 
TBD
 
March 14 – Houston
 
TBD
 
Runner-up Pool B
 
March 17 – Miami
 
Winner Pool A
 
Winner SF1
 
March 13 – Miami
 
Winner SF2
 
Runner-up Pool C
 
March 16 – Miami
 
Winner Pool D
 
TBD
 
March 14 – Miami
 
TBD
 
Runner-up Pool D
 
 
Winner Pool C
 

Quarterfinals

If the United States advances, they will play their quarterfinal game on March 13, while if Japan advances, they will play on March 14, both regardless of pool stage position. [11]

DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 13, 2026 Runner-up Pool A–Winner Pool B  Daikin Park    
Mar 13, 2026 Runner-up Pool C–Winner Pool D  LoanDepot Park    
Mar 14, 2026 Runner-up Pool B–Winner Pool A  Daikin Park    
Mar 14, 2026 Runner-up Pool D–Winner Pool C  LoanDepot Park    

Semifinals

DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 15, 2026 Winner QF TBD–Winner QF TBD  LoanDepot Park    
Mar 16, 2026 Winner QF TBD–Winner QF TBD  LoanDepot Park    

Final

DateLocal timeRoad teamScoreHome teamInn.VenueGame durationAttendanceBoxscore
Mar 17, 2026 Winner SF1–Winner SF2  LoanDepot Park    

Broadcast

TerritoryRights holder(s)Ref.
Japan Netflix [12]
United States
 [13] [14]
Taiwan ELTA Sports  [ zh ] [15]


References

  1. ↑ "Classic will return in 2026, Commissioner confirms". MLB.com. March 21, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 hosts
  3. ↑ "Japan tops Team USA in dramatic finish to claim 3rd Classic title". MLB.com. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Clair, Michael (March 10, 2023). "No surprise here: Ohtani dominates on hill, at plate". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 hosts". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ Francys Romero [@francysromeroFR] (September 24, 2024). "Pools for the WBC Qualifiers- 2025, per sources. It will be the first time with only 8 teams" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "World Baseball Classic Qualifiers announced". MLB.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  8. ↑ "WBSC Rankings - Men's baseball on 31/12/2024". World Baseball Softball Confederation . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 host". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Pools and game schedule announced for 2026 World Baseball Classic". Major League Baseball . Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "World Baseball Classic 2026 pools finalized". MLB.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ "World Baseball Classic Inc. and Netflix Announce Exclusive Partnership for 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan". About Netflix. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Weprin, Alex (August 25, 2025). "Netflix Inks Streaming Deal for World Baseball Classic … But Only in Japan". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2025. Fox Sports holds the TV and streaming rights to the WBC in the U.S.
  14. ↑ "Netflix Baseball Erogeny, Versant's First Sports Deal & ESPN-NFL Footnotes". Puck. Retrieved August 25, 2025. Fox Sports holds the U.S. rights
  15. ↑ 聯合新聞網. "經典賽／愛爾達場場直播 14場資格賽+47場正賽全都看得到". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
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