Details for the 2026 World Baseball Classic have been put into place, including stadiums that will host games, team pool arrangements and schedule for the sixth installment of the tournament.
The World Baseball Classic is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) as the sport’s official National Team World Championship.
In 2023, the WBC expanded to 20 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history. The 16 teams that finished within the top four of their respective first-round pools that year were invited to participate in the World Baseball Classic 2026.
The entire WBC bracket will be completed by four teams that advance from the the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. Details regarding the WBC Qualifiers scheduled for February and March 2025, including competing teams and locations, will be announced in the coming months.
Popularity and interest with the WBC significantly increased last year, which led to record TV ratings, attendance, and merchandise sales.
The World Baseball Classic was delayed to 2023 rather than being played in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Baseball Classic 2026 details
WBC Pools
Pool A
Teams assigned to Pool A are Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama and a to-be-determined qualifier.
Pool B
On the same side of the WBC bracket as Pool A, teams in Pool B are United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and and a to-be-determined qualifier.
Pool C
Pool C consists of Japan, Australia, Korea, Czechia and and a to-be-determined qualifier.
Pool D
Rounding out the other half of the bracket are teams in Pool D, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel and a to-be-determined qualifier.
Schedule
Opening round games of the World Baseball Classic 2026 are scheduled to be played from March 5-11. Quarterfinals are being played March 13 and 14, with the final round beginning March 15.
The WBC championship game will be played at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17.
Similar to 2023, opening round games will feature pool play in each of the four venues with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the Quarterfinals, which again features single-elimination games.
World Baseball Classic stadiums
The 2026 WBC will take place at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins; Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros; Tokyo Dome in Japan; and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pool A games are being played in Puerto Rico, Pool B is taking place in Houston, Pool C will be in Tokyo, and Pool D games are being staged in Miami.
Quarterfinals games between the teams that advance from Pools and B will be played at Minute Maid Park, while those that emerge from Pools C and D will meet at loanDepot Park.
loanDepot park became the first venue in tournament history to host games in all three rounds of a World Baseball Classic in the same year in 2023, and is poised to do so once again for the 2026 tournament.
Tickets
Full ticketing information for the 2026 tournament will be announced at a later date, but fans can register now at worldbaseballclassic.com/tickets to receive the latest information, including how to receive exclusive priority access before tickets go on sale.
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