The World Baseball Classic 2026 begins on March 4, 2026, becoming just the sixth event of its kind. The event lasts 13 days and ends on March 17, 2026.

The World Baseball Classic is a 4-pool, 20-team round-robin tournament. Each pool consists of five teams. Two teams from each pool advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds, which start on March 11, 2026. The finals take place on March 17, 2026, in Miami, Florida.

The event takes place every 4 years since 2006. In 2021, the event was delayed due to COVID-19 guidelines. The event took place in 2023, meaning the last one was 3 years ago instead of the usual four.

The WBBC includes 20 teams: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, USA, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Pool A consists of Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, and these games will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pool B consists of Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the USA, taking place in Houston. Pool C shapes up to be Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, and Korea, in Tokyo, Japan. Finally, Pool D leaves us with the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and it will take place in Miami.

Eight of the 20 advance to the quarterfinals, with the first two games on March 13, 2026.

All elimination games will take place in the United States. These games will be played in Houston and Miami.

The top two teams from the Americas (except the USA) will be qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Some teams that are looking fierce as true contenders are Japan, the USA, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Japan has a strong tradition of winning 3 of the 6 World Baseball Classics, including the most recent one in 2023 (defeated the USA 3-2). The USA has an extremely strong program, with star players like Skenes, Judge, Harper, and many more. The Dominican Republic is being feared as a significant threat to be crowned. Finally, Mexico and Puerto Rico are two very deep and experienced rosters looking to make a run for it all.

Team USA has only won once since this special event was created. They won that title back in 2017. They had a chance to make it two at the last WBBC in 2023, but fell short to the Japanese. Will this rivalry continue into this year’s event?

Team Japan is the most feared team in the tournament because of their rich history in the WBBC. No other country has won multiple times, with Japan as the only exception. Will they defend their title and bear a 4th ring?

According to BetMGM, the USA has -700 odds of winning, while Japan comes in at -550.

Does the USA have what it takes to bring it back for the first time in 9 years?

“Yes, the USA has a lot of drive and motivation coming from last tournament’s loss and heartbreak… They’ll be back stronger than ever, and they will bring it home,” Saint Paul’s junior Brodie Bastoe said.

“We have lots of talent offensively and defensively, and we are not going to lose without a fight… I believe the USA will take it home,” Saint Paul’s junior Peyton Pelloat said.

The tournament will be live on Fox, FS1, FS2, and Fox Deportes.

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Feature Photo Image Credit via 11point7.com