Longing for the intensity of playoff baseball in the month of March? Look no further than the World Baseball Classic, as some of the best players in the world will represent their countries in a 20-team tournament over the next two weeks.
The last World Baseball Classic in 2023 ended in dramatic fashion, as Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to secure the title for Japan. Team USA, once again managed by Mark DeRosa, will attempt to finish the job this time around. They have a good chance to do exactly that with a star-studded roster highlighted by Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Bobby Witt Jr. and Cal Raleigh. Of course, Ohtani and the defending champions will have something to say about that. The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, and Puerto Rico are among the other contenders in the field. It’s going to be a blast.
Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the World Baseball Classic and Team USA.
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When does the World Baseball Classic start?
The 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic gets underway on Wednesday, March 3 and runs through the championship game on Tuesday, March 17.
2026 WBC schedule: Key dates to know
- March 6-11: Opening Round Pool Play
- March 13-14: Quarterfinal play (single elimination)
- March 15-16: Semifinals (single elimination)
- March 17: Championship Final
How to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic
All games will be broadcast in the United States via FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes, and TUBI. The entire tournament can be seen in Japan via Netflix.
2026 World Baseball Classic Pools
Pool A (March 6-11; top two teams advance to quarterfinals)
Location: Hiram Bithorn Stadium (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
- Canada
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
Pool B (March 6-11; top two teams advance to quarterfinals)
Location: Daikin Park (Houston, Texas)
- Brazil
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Mexico
- United States
Pool C (March 6-11; top two teams advance to quarterfinals)
Location: Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)
- Australia
- Chinese Taipei
- Czechia
- Japan
- Korea
Pool D (March 6-11; top two teams advance to quarterfinals)
Location: loanDepot park (Miami, Florida)
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Venezuela
Team USA WBC schedule
(All times EST)
- Friday, March 6 vs. Brazil (8 p.m.)
- Saturday, March 7 vs. Great Britain (8 p.m.)
- Monday, March 9 vs. Mexico (8 p.m.)
- Tuesday, March 10 vs. Italy (9 p.m.)
Japan WBC schedule
(All times EST)
- Friday, March 6 vs. Chinese Taipei (5 a.m.)
- Saturday, March 7 vs. South Korea (5 a.m.)
- Sunday, March 8 vs. Australia (6 a.m)
- Tuesday, March 10 vs. Czechia (6 a.m)
World Baseball Classic History
The World Baseball Classic has occurred five times dating back to 2006. Japan has been a powerhouse in the tournament, with three championships to their name.
2006: Japan
2009: Japan
2013: Dominican Republic
2017: United States
2023: Japan
World Baseball Classic Team USA Roster
|
Pitchers |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | POSITION |
| 53 | David Bednar | RHP |
| 31 | Matthew Boyd | LHP |
| 60 | Garrett Cleavinger | LHP |
| 35 | Clay Holmes | RHP |
| 48 | Griffin Jax | RHP |
| 40 | Brad Keller | RHP |
| 22 | Clayton Kershaw | LHP |
| 26 | Nolan McLean | RHP |
| 19 | Mason Miller | RHP |
| 30 | Paul Skenes | RHP |
| 27 | Tarik Skubal | LHP |
| 55 | Gabe Speier | LHP |
| 52 | Michael Wacha | RHP |
| 62 | Logan Webb | RHP |
| 59 | Garrett Whitlock | RHP |
| 44 | Ryan Yarbrough | LHP |
| Catchers | ||
| # | NAME | POSITION |
| 29 | Cal Raleigh | C |
| 16 | Will Smith | C |
| Infielders | ||
| # | NAME | POSITION |
| 2 | Alex Bregman | 3B |
| 5 | Ernie Clement | INF |
| 43 | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B |
| 24 | Bryce Harper | 1B |
| 11 | Gunnar Henderson | SS |
| 13 | Brice Turang | 2B |
| 7 | Bobby Witt Jr. | SS |
| Outfielders | ||
| # | NAME | POSITION |
| 3 | Roman Anthony | OF |
| 25 | Byron Buxton | OF |
| 4 | Pete Crow-Armstrong | OF |
| 99 | Aaron Judge | OF |
| Designated Hitter | ||
| NAME | POSITION | |
| Kyle Schwarber | DH |
