World Baseball Classic 2026: Schedule, Locations, and How to Watch
The World Baseball Classic 2026 (WBC) is set to take place from March 5th to March 17th, with games hosted across four locations – Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami. The tournament combines group play with a direct elimination phase, according to the official schedule published by MLB.
Opening Rounds and Host Cities
The tournament kicks off on March 5th at the Tokyo Dome with a match between Chinese Taipei and Australia. Games will then expand to Hiram Bithorn Stadium (San Juan), Daikin Park (Houston), and loanDepot Park (Miami) starting on March 6th. The competition is structured around four groups.
The schedule, as detailed by MLB, outlines the distribution of games across these host cities through March 11th.
Broadcast Information
Fans in the United States can catch all the action of the group stage on FOX Sports. MLB highlights a particular focus on the decisive rounds taking place in Texas and Florida.
Quarterfinal and Final Stages
The quarterfinals will be split between Houston and Miami, according to the format and locations described by MLB. FOX Sports will broadcast two of these quarterfinal games: one from Houston on March 13th at 8:00 PM ET and another from Miami on March 14th at 9:00 PM ET, too available on FOX Deportes.
The semifinals and the final of the World Baseball Classic 2026 will be held exclusively at loanDepot Park in Miami.
2026 WBC Pool Play Standings (as of March 10, 2026)
Pool A – San Juan
- Puerto Rico: 3-0
- Cuba: 2-1
- Canada: 1-1
- Colombia: 1-3
- Panama: 1-3
Pool B – Houston
- USA: 3-0
- Italy: 2-0
- Mexico: 2-1
- Great Britain: 1-3
- Brazil: 0-4
Pool C – Tokyo
- Japan: 3-0
- Korea: 2-2
- Australia: 2-2
- Chinese Taipei: 2-2
- Czechia: 0-3
Pool D – Miami
- Venezuela: 3-0
- Dominican Republic: 3-0
- Israel: 1-2
- Netherlands: 1-2
- Nicaragua: 0-4
* – Advanced to quarterfinals
Tie-Breaking Procedures
In the First Round, teams within each pool are ranked by their winning percentage. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Quarterfinal Round. If teams are tied with the same winning percentage, the following criteria are used:
- Head-to-head record between the tied teams.
- If three or more teams are tied, the team that won all its games against the other tied teams is ranked higher.
- The team that lost all its games against the other tied teams is ranked lower.
- Finally, standings are determined by the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will the 2026 World Baseball Classic be played?
A: The tournament will be held in the United States (Miami and Houston), Japan (Tokyo), and Puerto Rico (San Juan).
Q: When does the 2026 World Baseball Classic start?
A: The tournament begins on March 5th, 2026.
Q: How can I watch the World Baseball Classic in the United States?
A: Games will be broadcast on FOX Sports, including FOX, FS1, and FS2.
Q: Which teams have advanced to the quarterfinals?
A: Puerto Rico, Cuba, USA, Italy, Japan, Korea, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic have advanced.
Q: What happens if teams are tied in the pool play standings?
A: Tie-breaking procedures involve head-to-head records and run differential, as outlined above.
Stay tuned for further updates and results as the World Baseball Classic 2026 progresses!
