The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway, captivating baseball fans worldwide with high-stakes international competition featuring 20 national teams. Running from March 5 to March 17, the tournament showcases elite talent from MLB stars and rising prospects, defending champion Japan aiming for a fourth title, and powerhouses like the United States, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico vying for glory.

With pool play in full swing as of March 7, 2026, early results include Korea's 11-4 win over Czechia on March 5, Australia's 5-1 victory over Czechia later that day, Japan's dominant 13-0 shutout of Chinese Taipei on March 6, and ongoing games like the United States facing Brazil. The format features four round-robin pools of five teams each, with the top two from every pool advancing to single-elimination quarterfinals, followed by semifinals and the championship at loanDepot park in Miami.

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2026 World Baseball Classic

Tournament Format and Advancement

Each pool plays a round-robin schedule, with teams facing every opponent once. Advancement hinges on winning percentage, with head-to-head results as the primary tiebreaker, followed by runs allowed per nine innings and other metrics. The quarterfinals split geographically: winners and runners-up from Pools A and B meet in Houston, while Pools C and D qualifiers clash in Miami. Semifinals and the final occur in Miami on March 15 and 17, respectively, at 8 p.m. ET.

A total of 47 games span the event, blending marquee rivalries, underdog stories and global talent displays during MLB's offseason.

Venues and Pool Dates

  • Pool C: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan (March 5-10)
  • Pool A: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico (March 6-11)
  • Pool B: Daikin Park (Minute Maid Park), Houston, Texas (March 6-11)
  • Pool D: loanDepot park, Miami, Florida (March 6-11)

Quarterfinals: March 13 (Miami and Houston venues) Semifinals: March 15, loanDepot park, Miami Championship: March 17, 8 p.m. ET, loanDepot park, Miami

Pools and Teams

Pool A (San Juan): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, Colombia This group promises passionate play in Puerto Rico's baseball-crazed atmosphere, with home-team Puerto Rico and perennial contender Cuba leading expectations.

Pool B (Houston): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Brazil The U.S., loaded with stars, opens against Brazil on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, followed by matchups against Great Britain (March 7) and Mexico (March 9).

Pool C (Tokyo): Japan, Australia, Korea, Czechia, Chinese Taipei Defending champions Japan host regional rivals, starting with a blowout over Chinese Taipei on March 6. Korea's strong start sets up intense Asia-Pacific battles.

Pool D (Miami): Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela The Dominican Republic, a historical powerhouse, faces Nicaragua on March 6, with Venezuela and Netherlands adding depth in a competitive group.

Detailed Pool Play Schedule Highlights (All Times ET Unless Noted)

March 5 (Tokyo Dome)

  • Czechia vs. Korea: Korea 11, Czechia 4 (FS1)
  • Australia vs. Czechia: Australia 5, Czechia 1

March 6

  • Japan vs. Chinese Taipei: Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0 (5 a.m., FS1)
  • Cuba vs. Panama: Cuba 3, Panama 1 (11 a.m., FS2)
  • Netherlands vs. Venezuela (Noon, Miami)
  • Mexico vs. Great Britain (1 p.m., Houston, FS1)
  • Puerto Rico vs. Colombia (6 p.m., FS1)
  • Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic (7 p.m., FS2)
  • United States vs. Brazil (8 p.m., FOX)
  • Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia (10 p.m., FS2, Tokyo)

Subsequent days feature full round-robin slates, with key clashes like U.S. vs. Mexico (March 9, Houston), Japan vs. Korea (likely mid-pool in Tokyo), and Puerto Rico vs. Cuba (March 8 or 9 in San Juan). Exact daily lineups continue through March 11, with pools concluding by March 10 (Tokyo) and March 11 (others).

Knockout Stage Outlook

Quarterfinals (March 13):

  • Pool A/B crossovers in Houston
  • Pool C/D crossovers in Miami

Semifinals (March 15, Miami): Winners advance to the March 17 final.

The championship pits the final four in a single-elimination showdown, with Miami hosting the decisive games under bright lights.

Early Storylines and Viewing Info

As of March 7, Japan and Korea show early dominance in Pool C, while Pool A and B games build momentum. Star power abounds: Shohei Ohtani leads Japan, Aaron Judge headlines the U.S., and players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic) add flair.

In the U.S., FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes broadcast all games, with streams on FOX One, the FOX Sports app and free options on Tubi for select contests. International broadcasts vary, including Netflix in Japan.

The 2026 WBC delivers drama, upsets and national pride. With pool play progressing rapidly, check MLB.com for live scores, standings and updates as teams battle toward Miami's finale. Attendance already exceeds 150,000 early on, reflecting global enthusiasm for this premier international showcase.