The World Baseball Classic returns in March for its sixth edition with a format of 20 teams spread across four groups and a total of 47 games in 13 days of competition. The tournament will be played at four international venues and promises to bring together several of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball.
Official venues
The matches will be played at:
- Tokyo Dome
- Hiram Bithorn Stadium
- loanDepot Park
- Daikin Park
Japan wants a fourth title
Japan is the only team to have won multiple titles (2006, 2009 and 2023) and will be looking for its fourth crown.
Its powerful template includes:
- Shohei Ohtani – 2025 National League MVP
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 2025 World Series MVP
- Yusei Kikuchi
- Seiya Suzuki
United States presents a luxury roster
The United States team will be led by its captain:
- Aaron Judge
It will also feature:
- Tarik Skubal – Cy Young 2025
- Paul Skenes – Cy Young 2025
- Bryce Harper
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Clayton Kershaw
The U.S. team boasts 65 All-Star appearances and four former MVPs on its roster.
Teams by group
Group A – Hiram Bithorn Stadium (San Juan)
- Canada
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
Group B – Daikin Park (Houston)
- Brazil
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Mexico
- United States
Group C – Tokyo Dome
- Australia
- Chinese Taipei
- Czech Republic
- Japan
- South Korea
Group D – loanDepot Park (Miami)
- Dominican Republic
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Venezuela
Broadcast in the United States
Most matches will be broadcast by the Fox family of networks (Fox, FS1, FS2) and will be available for streaming on the Fox Sports app and Tubi.
Key dates
- Group stage: March 4-11
- Quarter-finals: March 13 and 14
- Semi-finals: March 15 and 16
- Final: March 21 (loanDepot Park, Miami – 8 p.m. ET)
The 2026 World Baseball Classic promises to be one of the most competitive international tournaments in history, with MLB stars, traditional powerhouses and emerging teams looking to make history on the diamond
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