2026 World Baseball Classic
This tournament followed the thrilling conclusion of the 2023 event, in which Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to clinch the title for Japan.
Qualifiers occurred in early 2025, with the winner of the round-robin advancing automatically to the main tournament while the next two highest teams played a one-game playoff, with the winner of that game also moving on.
The main tournament then occurred in cities around the world in March 2026, with the "final four" round returning to Miami.
Qualifying tournaments
Group A was played in Taipei City while Group B was played in Tucson.
Thursday 2/20
(A) South Africa vs. Nicaragua, 11:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Friday 2/21
(A) Spain vs. Chinese Taipei, 6:00AM
World (MLBN/MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(A) Spain vs. Nicaragua, 11:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Saturday 2/22
(A) Chinese Taipei vs. South Africa, 6:00AM
World (MLBN/MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(A) South Africa vs. Spain, 11:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Sunday 2/23
(A) Nicaragua vs. Chinese Taipei, 6:00AM
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Tuesday 2/25
(A) Chinese Taipei vs. Spain, 6:00AM
World (FS2/MLBN/MLB.com/YouTube): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Winner qualified for full tournament, joining Nicaragua
Sunday 3/2
(B) China vs. Germany, 1:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
(B) Brazil vs. Colombia, 8:00
World (FS2/MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
Monday 3/3
(B) Brazil vs. Germany, 1:00
World (FS2/MLBN/MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
(B) Colombia vs. China, 8:00
World (FS2/MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
Tuesday 3/4
(B) China vs. Brazil, 1:00
World (MLBN/MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
(B) Germany vs. Colombia, 8:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
Thursday 3/6
(B) Germany vs. Brazil, 8:00
World (MLB.com/YouTube): Gregg Caserta, Steven Brault
Winner qualified for full tournament, joining Colombia
Warmup games
Prior to the tournament, teams played warmup games as thus:
- Teams in pools A, B, and D played MLB teams at their spring training sites.
- Teams in pool C played teams in the KBO League (South Korea), CPBL (Taiwan), and NPB (Japan).
The following games were to be shown live throughout the United States.
Tuesday 3/3
Canada vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 1:00
MLBN (via Sportsnet):
USA vs. San Francisco Giants, 3:00
ESPN: Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville, Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Deportes:
Mexico vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 3:30
Fox Deportes:
Detroit Tigers vs. Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), 6:00
MLBN: Gregg Caserta, Alex Avila
Venezuela vs. Houston Astros, 6:00
Fox Deportes:
Wednesday 3/4
Detroit Tigers vs. Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), 2:00
MLBN:
Mexico vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:00
Fox Deportes:
Venezuela vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00
Fox Deportes:
Main tournament
Here are the game sites:
- Pool D, two quarterfinals, both semifinals, championship game - Miami
- Pool B, two quarterfinals - Houston
- Pool A - San Juan
- Pool C - Tokyo
Wednesday 3/4
(C) Chinese Taipei vs. Australia, 10:00
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
Thursday 3/5
(C) Czech Republic vs. South Korea, 5:00AM
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(C) Australia vs. Czech Republic, 10:00
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
Friday 3/6
(C) Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 5:00AM, FS1
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Rolando Nichols, Eric Fischer
(A) Cuba vs. Panama, 11:00AM
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(D) Netherlands vs. Venezuela, 12:00
World (Tubi): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(B) Mexico vs. Great Britain, 1:00
World (FS1): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(A) Puerto Rico vs. Colombia, 6:00
World (FS1): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(D) Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, 7:00
World (FS2): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
(B) United States vs. Brazil, 8:00
FOX: Adam Amin, AJ Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright, Ken Rosenthal
World: Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(C) Chinese Taipei vs. Czech Republic, 10:00
World (FS2): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Saturday 3/7
(C) South Korea vs. Japan, 5:00AM
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(A) Colombia vs. Canada, 11:00AM
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(D) Nicaragua vs. Netherlands, 12:00
World (Tubi): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(B) Brazil vs. Italy, 1:00
World (Fox Sports App): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
(A) Panama vs. Puerto Rico, 6:00
World (FS1): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(D) Israel vs. Venezuela, 7:00
World (FS2): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
(B) Great Britain vs. United States, 8:00
FOX: Adam Amin, AJ Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright, Ken Rosenthal
World: Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
SAP/Fox Sports App: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(C) Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea, 10:00
World (FS2): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Sunday 3/8
(C) Australia vs. Japan, 6:00AM
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(A) Colombia vs. Cuba, 12:00
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(D) Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, 12:00
FOX: Kevin Kugler, John Smoltz, Tom Verducci
World: Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(B) Great Britain vs. Italy, 1:00
World (Tubi): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(D) Nicaragua vs. Israel, 7:00
World (Tubi): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(A) Panama vs. Canada, 7:00
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(B) Brazil vs. Mexico, 8:00
World (FS1): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
Monday 3/9
(C) South Korea vs. Australia, 6:00AM
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Rolando Nichols, Eric Fischer
(D) Dominican Republic vs. Israel, 12:00
World (FS1): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(A) Colombia vs. Panama, 12:00
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(B) Brazil vs. Great Britain, 1:00
World (Tubi): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Rolando Nichols, Eric Fischer
(A) Cuba vs. Puerto Rico, 7:00
World (FS1): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
(D) Venezuela vs. Nicaragua, 7:00
World (FS2): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
(B) Mexico vs. United States, 8:00
FOX: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal
World: Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
Tuesday 3/10
(C) Czech Republic vs. Japan, 6:00AM
World (FS1): Stephen Nelson, José Mota
Fox Deportes: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
(D) Israel vs. Netherlands, 7:00
World (Fox Sports App): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
(A) Canada vs. Puerto Rico, 7:00
World (Tubi): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(C) Italy vs. United States, 8:00
FS1: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
World: Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
Wednesday 3/11
(A) Canada vs. Cuba, 3:00
World (FS2): Tyler Maun, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Fox Deportes: Rolando Nichols, Michelle Liendo
(B) Italy vs. Mexico, 7:00
World (FS1): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
(D) Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, 8:00
World (Tubi): Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes on Tubi: Carlos Alvarez, Jaime Motta
Italy-Mexico was originally scheduled for Tubi and DR-Venezuela for FS1, but coverage was switched due to Italy-Mexico's impact on the Pool B tiebreakers.
Friday 3/13
QF: South Korea vs. Dominican Republic (Miami), 6:30
World (FS2): Matt Vasgersian, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes:
QF: United States vs. Canada (Houston), 8:00
FOX: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal
World: Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes: Adrian Garcia-Márquez, Edgar Gonzáles
Saturday 3/14
QF: Puerto Rico vs. Italy (Miami), 3:00
World (FS1): Rich Waltz, Dan Plesac, JP Morosi
Fox Deportes:
QF: Venezuela vs. Japan (Houston), 9:00
FOX: Adam Amin, A.J. Pierzynski, Tom Verducci
World: Paul Severino, Yonder Alonso
Fox Deportes:
Sunday 3/15
Semi., United States vs. Dominican Republic (Miami), 8:00
FS1: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci
World:
Fox Deportes:
Monday 3/16
Semi., Venezuela vs Italy (Miami), 8:00
FS1: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci
World:
Fox Deportes:
Tuesday 3/17
Semifinal winners, 8:00
FOX: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal
World:
Fox Deportes: