Tournament Overview

The sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic will seize place in March, bringing together 20 national teams to compete for the title of world champion. The tournament promises exciting baseball action across multiple international venues.

Pool Breakdown and Locations

The 20 participating countries have been divided into four pools, each playing a round-robin format. Here’s a gaze at the pool assignments and host cities:

• Pool A: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Pool B: Houston, Texas, USA
• Pool C: Tokyo, Japan
• Pool D: Miami, Florida, USA

Pool A (San Juan, PR)

• Puerto Rico
• Panama
• Cuba
• Canada
• Colombia

Pool A Schedule

• March 6: Cuba vs. Panama
• March 6: Puerto Rico vs. Colombia
• March 7: Colombia vs. Canada
• March 7: Panama vs. Puerto Rico
• March 8: Colombia vs. Cuba
• March 9: Colombia vs. Panama
• March 9: Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
• March 10: Canada vs. Puerto Rico
• March 11: Canada vs. Cuba

Pool B (Houston)

• United States
• Mexico
• Italy
• Great Britain
• Brazil

Pool B Schedule

• March 6: Mexico vs. Great Britain
• March 6: United States vs. Brazil
• March 7: Brazil vs. Italy
• March 7: Great Britain vs. United States
• March 8: Great Britain vs. Italy
• March 8: Brazil vs. Mexico
• March 9: Brazil vs. Great Britain
• March 9: Mexico vs. United States
• March 10: Italy vs. United States
• March 11: Italy vs. Mexico

Pool C (Tokyo)

• Japan
• South Korea
• Australia
• Czechia
• Chinese Taipei

Pool C Schedule

• March 5: Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
• March 5: Czechia vs. South Korea
• March 6: Australia vs. Czechia
• March 6: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
• March 7: Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
• March 7: South Korea vs. Japan
• March 8: Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
• March 8: Australia vs. Japan
• March 9: South Korea vs. Australia
• March 10: Czechia vs. Japan

Pool D (Miami)

• Venezuela
• Netherlands
• Dominican Republic
• Israel
• Nicaragua

Pool D Schedule

• March 6: Netherlands vs. Venezuela
• March 6: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
• March 7: Nicaragua vs. Netherlands
• March 7: Israel vs. Venezuela
• March 8: Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
• March 8: Nicaragua vs. Israel
• March 9: Dominican Republic vs. Israel
• March 9: Venezuela vs. Nicaragua
• March 10: Israel vs. Netherlands
• March 11: Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela

Tournament Progression

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held in Miami and Houston. The semifinals (March 15-16) and championship game (March 17) will also be played in Miami at LoanDepot Park.

The tournament begins on Thursday, March 5, in Tokyo, with Team USA opening its campaign on Saturday, March 6, against Brazil in Houston. Defending champion Japan will play Chinese Taipei on Friday, March 6.

FAQ

When does the 2026 World Baseball Classic start?

The tournament begins on March 5, 2026, in Tokyo.

Where will the championship game be played?

The championship game will be played on March 17, 2026, at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

How many teams are participating in the 2026 WBC?

20 national teams are participating in the tournament.