With the 2026 World Baseball Classic just weeks away, the global stage is set once again for one of the sport’s most electric tournaments. Twenty nations are gearing up to compete, each chasing the kind of baseball immortality that only the WBC can offer.
For Team Japan, the mission is clear: defend their 2023 crown and capture a record-setting third title. But standing in their way?
A hungry Team USA squad still stinging from that 3-2 loss in the last final - a game that ended with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout in a moment that instantly became baseball lore.
Team USA, the 2017 champions, aren’t just back - they’re back with something to prove. And they’re not alone.
The Dominican Republic, winners in 2013, are another powerhouse with championship pedigree. Add in perennial contenders like Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Venezuela, and this year’s field is as deep and dangerous as it’s ever been.
Here’s a look at the 20 teams participating in the 2026 WBC:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chinese Taipei
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Czechia
- Dominican Republic
- Great Britain
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- South Korea
- United States
- Venezuela
The tournament runs from March 5-17, with pool play kicking things off and the knockout rounds taking over in the second week. All eyes, of course, will be on Team USA as they begin their campaign in Pool B. Their road to redemption starts in Houston at Daikin Park, where they’ll need to finish among the top two in their five-team group to advance to the quarterfinals.
Here’s how Team USA’s pool play schedule shapes up:
Friday, March 6
**vs.
Brazil**
First pitch: 7 p.m.
CT
TV: Fox / Fox Deportes
Saturday, March 7
**vs.
Great Britain**
First pitch: 7 p.m.
CT
TV: Fox
Monday, March 9
**vs.
Mexico**
First pitch: 7 p.m.
CT
TV: Fox / Fox Deportes
Tuesday, March 10
**vs.
Italy**
First pitch: 8 p.m.
CT
TV: FS1 / Fox Deportes
Each of these games carries weight - there's no room for a slow start in a tournament this short. With Brice Turang and a stacked U.S. roster taking the field, expect intensity from the jump. And if they do what they’re capable of, the path to the title gets even more interesting.
Here’s how the knockout rounds could look for Team USA, depending on how they finish in pool play:
Quarterfinals
If USA wins Pool B:
Friday, March 13
vs. Pool A runner-up
First pitch: 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox / Fox Deportes
Venue: Daikin Park (Houston, TX)
If USA finishes second in Pool B:
Saturday, March 14
vs. Pool A winner
First pitch: 2 p.m. CT
TV: FS1 / Fox Deportes
Venue: Daikin Park (Houston, TX)
Semifinals
(held at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of the Marlins)
If USA advances from Scenario 1:
Sunday, March 15
vs. Pool C winner or Pool D runner-up
First pitch: 7 p.m. CT
TV: FS1 / Fox Deportes
If USA advances from Scenario 2:
Monday, March 16
vs. Pool D winner or Pool C runner-up
First pitch: 7 p.m. CT
TV: FS1 / Fox Deportes
Championship Game
Tuesday, March 17
First pitch: 7 p.m.
CT
TV: Fox / Fox Deportes
Venue: loanDepot Park (Miami, FL)
The WBC has always been more than just a tournament - it’s a celebration of baseball’s global reach, a showcase of national pride, and a proving ground for some of the game’s brightest stars. And for Team USA, it’s a chance to reclaim the top spot and write a new chapter in their international history.
With a loaded roster, a chip on their shoulder, and a clear path ahead, the countdown to March is officially on.