While the start of the MLB season is quickly approaching, fans don't have to wait until then to watch world class baseball action on the diamond.
The World Baseball Classic is underway.
The global event, now in its sixth iteration, features 20 teams representing a country with international bragging rights on the line.
Team USA begins its group play on Friday night against Brazil with the first of four games over the next five days. The top two teams from the four groups advance to the knockout round stage.
Japan is the reigning WBC champion in 2023.
Fourteen members of the Milwaukee Brewers are participating in the World Baseball Classic with Brice Turang the lone representative on Team USA. Three Brewers are also on Team Venezuela, headlined by stars Jackson Chourio and William Contreras. Brewers closer Abner Uribe is on Team Dominican Republic.
Here's how to watch Team USA play tonight, including start time, TV and live stream.
What time does the World Baseball Classic start? Team USA vs Brazil start time
Team USA opens the World Baseball Classic against Team Brazil for the first group play game at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Daikin Park in Houston.
All of Team USA's Group B games will be played at the home of the Houston Astros.
Team USA baseball vs Brazil on TV, live stream: World Baseball Classic where to watch
All of the World Baseball Classic games are on Fox or a Fox Sports-related channel.
Team USA features some serious pop in its lineup with the 2025 home run champs from the National League and American League batting fourth and sixth.
Here are some highlights for the Team USA starting lineup:
- Two-time All-Star and 2024 MLB batting champion Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals leads off for Team USA against Brazil.
- Two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper bats second.
- New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, the reigning back-to-back AL MVP who led the AL in home runs three times, will bat third.
- Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL in home runs and RBI in 2025, bats fourth.
- Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who led all of MLB in home runs last season with 60 (the most ever for a catcher in a season), bats sixth.
World Baseball Classic groups and locations
Here are the four WBC pools, the teams in each and where they're playing their group games:
- Pool A teams of Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Canada are playing at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Pool B teams of Mexico, Great Britain, United States, Brazil and Italy are playing at Daikin Park in Houston.
- Pool C teams of Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Korea and Japan are playing at the Tokyo Dome.
- Pool D teams of Netherlands, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Israel are playing at loanDepot Park in Miami.
The World Baseball Classic takes place from March 5-17.
Pool play runs from March 5-11. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinal round on March 13 and 14 in Houston and Miami.
The semifinals and championship games will take place at loanDepot Park in Miami on March 16-17.
Team USA World Baseball Classic roster
- Paul Goldschmidt (1B, New York Yankees)
- Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Kansas City Royals)
- Ernie Clement (UTIL, Toronto Blue Jays)
World Baseball Classic full schedule, times and TV
The WBC began on March 5 with two games from Pool C:
- 5 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Colombia, FS1
- 6 p.m.: Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, FS2
- 7 p.m.: USA vs. Brazil, Fox
- 9 p.m.: Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia, FS2
- 4 a.m.: Korea vs. Japan, FS1
- 10 a.m.: Colombia vs. Canada, FS2
- 11 a.m.: Nicaragua vs. Netherlands, Tubi
- Noon: Brazil vs. Italy, Fox Sports App
- 5 p.m.: Panama vs. Puerto Rico, FS1
- 6 p.m.: Israel vs. Venezuela, FS2
- 7 p.m.: Great Britain vs. USA, Fox
- 9 p.m.: Chinese Taipei vs. Korea, FS2
- 5 a.m.: Australia vs. Japan, FS1
- 11 a.m.: Colombia vs. Cuba, FS2
- 11 a.m.: Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, Fox
- Noon: Great Britain vs. Italy, Tubi
- 6 p.m.: Nicaragua vs. Israel, Tubi
- 6 p.m.: Panama vs. Canada, FS2
- 7 p.m.: Brazil vs. Mexico, FS1
- 5 a.m.: Korea vs. Australia, FS1
- 11 a.m.: Dominican Republic vs. Israel, FS1
- 11 a.m.: Colombia vs. Panama, FS2
- Noon: Brazil vs. Great Britain, Tubi
- 6 p.m.: Cuba vs. Puerto Rico, FS1
- 6 p.m.: Venezuela vs. Nicaragua, FS2
- 7 p.m.: Mexico vs. USA, Fox
- 5 a.m.: Czechia vs. Japan, FS1
- 6 p.m.: Israel vs. Netherlands, Fox Sports App
- 6 p.m.: Canada vs. Puerto Rico, Tubi
- 8 p.m.: Italy vs. USA, FS1
- 2 p.m.: Canada vs. Cuba, FS2
- 6 p.m.: Italy vs. Mexico, Tubi
- 7 p.m.: Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, FS1
