The road to the 2026 World Baseball Classic title runs through Tokyo this week. On Friday, March 6, 2026, the world-renowned “Samurai Japan” will face off against Chinese Taipei in a matchup that transcends sport.
With Japan looking to maintain its perfect record in the opening rounds and Chinese Taipei fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals, the atmosphere at the Tokyo Dome is expected to be the loudest of the tournament so far. For fans in the United States, this means a late-night (or early-morning) date with world-class baseball.
Game time and how to watch
Due to the 14-hour time difference between Tokyo and the U.S. East Coast, American fans will need to adjust their clocks for this primetime Asian matchup.
- Date: Friday, March 6, 2026.
- Time: 5:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 a.m. PT.
- TV Channel: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will carry the live broadcast in English.
- Live Stream: The game can be streamed via the FOX Sports App or through services like FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV.
Rosters and Star Power
Team Japan (Samurai Japan)
Managed by Hiroki Kokubo, Japan’s 2026 roster is a terrifying mix of MLB superstars and NPB elites.
The Ace: Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines) is expected to take the mound. Scouts are calling this his “audition” for a record-breaking MLB posting later this year.
MLB Stars: Shohei Ohtani (DH/P) remains the face of the tournament, alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Seiya Suzuki.
Rising Star: Munetaka Murakami, the home run king of the NPB, anchors the middle of the order.
Team Chinese Taipei
Known for their incredible fundamentals and vocal fan support, Chinese Taipei brings a roster heavy on CPBL stars and high-level MiLB prospects.
Key Player: Yu Chang, the “Minister of Defense,” returns as the veteran leader in the infield.
Pitching: Lin Yu-Min (Arizona Diamondbacks prospect) is the projected starter, known for a deceptive changeup that could neutralize Japan’s left-handed power.
3 Interesting Facts to Watch
- The “Perfect” History: Japan enters this game with a 15-game winning streak in WBC opening rounds dating back to 2017. They haven’t lost a game on home soil in this tournament in nearly a decade.
- The “Cheer” Factor: Chinese Taipei is famous for its “orchestrated cheering” sections. Expect thousands of traveling fans to turn a corner of the Tokyo Dome into a wall of sound that never stops, regardless of the score.
- The Sasaki Radar: During the 2023 WBC, Roki Sasaki touched 102 mph. With two more years of development, Statcast experts are predicting he could challenge the all-time WBC velocity record (103.4 mph) during tonight’s outing.
Quick Matchup Facts
- Venue: Tokyo Dome, Japan.
- Format: Round-robin (Pool B).
- Historical Edge: Japan leads the head-to-head series in the WBC (3-0).
- The Stakes: A win for Japan clinches a quarterfinal berth; a win for Chinese Taipei would be the biggest upset in the island’s baseball history.
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