The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to get underway, with 20 teams competing for the title currently held by Japan. The tournament, which features a stacked roster of Major League Baseball talent, will begin with round-robin play in Tokyo, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Houston, and Miami.

Dominant Japan Aims for Repeat

Japan defeated the United States in the 2023 championship game to secure its third WBC title, going unbeaten throughout the tournament. They will once again be a favorite in 2026. Japan has now won 60% of WBC titles, according to CBS Sports.

A Look Back at World Baseball Classic Champions

Here’s a complete list of past World Baseball Classic winners:

• 2006: Japan (defeated Cuba) – MVP: Daisuke Matsuzaka
• 2009: Japan (defeated South Korea) – MVP: Daisuke Matsuzaka
• 2013: Dominican Republic (defeated Puerto Rico) – MVP: Robinson Canó
• 2017: United States (defeated Puerto Rico) – MVP: Marcus Stroman
• 2023: Japan (defeated United States) – MVP: Shohei Ohtani

Tournament Format

The World Baseball Classic consists of 20 teams broken into four pools. The top two teams from each pool will advance to a single-elimination bracket to determine the champion.

2026 World Baseball Classic Pools

• Pool A: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico
• Pool B: Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, United States
• Pool C: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Korea
• Pool D: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela

Key Dates

The tournament kicks off on March 4th with a game between Chinese Taipei and Australia. The championship game is scheduled for March 17th.

Past Champions

CBS Sports reports that Japan, the Dominican Republic, and the United States have each won the World Baseball Classic once.