Baseball fans, rejoice! The 2026 World Baseball Classic officially began Wednesday with the start of pool play. Colombia and Brazil secured the final two spots in this year’s tournament in qualifiers, rounding out the field of 20 nations set to compete.
This year marks the sixth iteration of the international baseball tournament, with Japan sitting as the reigning champion after defeating Team USA 3-2 in the 2023 final. The action opened with Australia defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Korea followed with an 11-4 rout of Czechia.
The Americans have taken home one WBC title, back in 2017, and they’re looking for a second with a loaded roster that includes 22 MLB All-Stars — the most of any roster in the tournament. Among those who will represent Team USA are Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge, just to name a few of the stars, with the U.S. currently the favorite (-105) over Japan (+350) at BetMGM.
During pool play, games will be played in Tokyo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Miami and Houston. The pool stage runs through March 11, followed by the quarterfinals (March 13 and 14) and semifinals (March 15 and 16). It all culminates with the WBC final on March 17, which will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Games will air across Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes, with streaming for all games available with a Fox One subscription.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news and updates from the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
- Thu, March 5, 2026 at 4:50 AM PSTThe Houston Astros’ Shay Whitcomb hit two home runs as Korea dismissed Czechia 11-4 in their first Pool C game of the World Baseball Classic.Korea hit four home runs in the rout at the Tokyo Dome, including a first-inning grand slam from Bo Gyeong Moon. Whitcomb is one of three Korean-American players on the roster.Czechia will be back on the field to face Australia at 10 p.m. ET Thursday.
- Thu, March 5, 2026 at 2:00 AM PSTYahoo Sports StaffPool play for the 2026 World Baseball Classic kicked off with a showdown between Chinese Taipei and Australia late Wednesday night for those in the U.S.The action continues early Thursday morning, starting the day off with Czechia vs. Korea at 5 a.m. ET, with Daniel Padysak and Hyeong Jun So taking the mound, respectively.Czechia failed to qualify for the WBC in its first two bids (2013, 2017) before falling in the first round of 2023. Korea, meanwhile, will look to get back to the championship game, having been the runner-up in 2009 but failing to advance past Round 1 since.Later in the day is Australia vs. Czechia at 10 p.m. ET, set at the Tokyo Dome.Both of Thursday’s games will air live on FS1.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM PSTJack Baer
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:27 PM PSTJack BaerAustralia takes the 2026 WBC opener 3-0 behind homers from Robbie Perkins and Travis Bazzana and a three-man shutout from the pitching staff.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:26 PM PSTJack BaerLyle Lin nearly did it. The A’s farmhand got a huge cheer with a deep fly ball, but it dies at the warning track. Chinese Taipei is down to its last out.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:25 PM PSTJack BaerThis just got interesting in the bottom of the ninth. A successful challenge allowed Yu Chang to reach first base, then Kungkuan Giljegiljaw sneaks a grounder into the outfield. The tying run is at the plate with one out.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM PSTJack BaerTravis Bazzana, the first overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft and the biggest name on this field, crushes a solo homer to give Australia a 3-0 lead.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:48 PM PSTJack BaerWith the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, TPE brought in Yi Chang to face Chris Burke. It worked, with Chang inducing a pop-out to keep the score 2-0.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:29 PM PSTJack BaerChen took a 93.6 mph fastball to the hand and left the game in clear pain. A rough break for a lineup that was already dealing with injuries.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:13 PM PSTJack BaerThe first home run of the 2026 World Baseball Classic belongs to Robbie Perkins, who clubs a two-run homer to break a scoreless tie for Australia.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM PSTJack BaerYu Chang, Taiwan’s all-time leader in MLB appearances, gets the country’s first hit off Jack O’Loughlin, who replaced Wells in the fourth inning.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:54 PM PSTJack Baer
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:44 PM PSTJack BaerHere’s the result of every at-bat against the Australia starter through three innings: strikeout, pop-out, walk, pop-out, pop-out, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:23 PM PSTJack BaerFacing the hard-throwing Jo-Hsi Hsu, the White Sox infielder laces a line drive to right field.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM PSTJack BaerAustralia starting pitcher Alex Wells opens Game 1 of the tournament with a strikeout of Chinese Taipei’s Stuart Fairchild.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 2:59 PM PSTJack BaerIts dominance took a while to materialize, but Team USA ended its two-game pre-World Baseball Classic exhibition tour with a 14-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. The game was called after eight innings.A day after a dominant 15-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, the American lineup began the scoring with a titanic homer from superstar Aaron Judge in the first inning, but that was the extent of the offense in the first three innings.But the final score wound up being what you would expect from an All-Star roster against the depth of one of MLB's worst organizations. It wasn't the best outing from starter Clayton Kershaw, but the Team USA bullpen was otherwise strong behind starter Ryan Yarbrough, with scoreless innings from Brad Keller, Garrett Cleavinger and Garrett Whitlock.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 2:08 PM PSTJason OwensColorado’s lead was short-lived. Alex Bregman hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to retake the for USA at 5-4.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM PSTJason OwensThe Rockies are making this a game. Kyle Karros hit a two-run blast in the fourth inning to give Colorado a 4-3 lead.But the home run didn’t come off an actual Team USA pitcher. Rockies organizational arm Carson Skipper, on loan from the Rockies for today’s exhibition, gave up the go-ahead shot in relief of Clayton Kershaw.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 12:24 PM PSTSean LeahyThe Yankees superstar didn’t wait long to make an impact in Wednesday’s Team USA exhibition against the Rockies.Judge took the third pitch he saw against Kyle Freeland and sent it 453 feet with a 115.9 mph exit velocity.
- Wed, March 4, 2026 at 12:18 PM PSTSomeone looks ready for WBC play to start…
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 4:50 AM PST
The Houston Astros’ Shay Whitcomb hit two home runs as Korea dismissed Czechia 11-4 in their first Pool C game of the World Baseball Classic.
Korea hit four home runs in the rout at the Tokyo Dome, including a first-inning grand slam from Bo Gyeong Moon. Whitcomb is one of three Korean-American players on the roster.
Czechia will be back on the field to face Australia at 10 p.m. ET Thursday.
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 2:00 AM PST
Pool play for the 2026 World Baseball Classic kicked off with a showdown between Chinese Taipei and Australia late Wednesday night for those in the U.S.
The action continues early Thursday morning, starting the day off with Czechia vs. Korea at 5 a.m. ET, with Daniel Padysak and Hyeong Jun So taking the mound, respectively.
Czechia failed to qualify for the WBC in its first two bids (2013, 2017) before falling in the first round of 2023. Korea, meanwhile, will look to get back to the championship game, having been the runner-up in 2009 but failing to advance past Round 1 since.
Later in the day is Australia vs. Czechia at 10 p.m. ET, set at the Tokyo Dome.
Both of Thursday’s games will air live on FS1.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM PST
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:27 PM PST
Australia takes the 2026 WBC opener 3-0 behind homers from Robbie Perkins and Travis Bazzana and a three-man shutout from the pitching staff.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:26 PM PST
Lyle Lin nearly did it. The A’s farmhand got a huge cheer with a deep fly ball, but it dies at the warning track. Chinese Taipei is down to its last out.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:25 PM PST
This just got interesting in the bottom of the ninth. A successful challenge allowed Yu Chang to reach first base, then Kungkuan Giljegiljaw sneaks a grounder into the outfield. The tying run is at the plate with one out.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM PST
Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft and the biggest name on this field, crushes a solo homer to give Australia a 3-0 lead.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:48 PM PST
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, TPE brought in Yi Chang to face Chris Burke. It worked, with Chang inducing a pop-out to keep the score 2-0.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:29 PM PST
Chen took a 93.6 mph fastball to the hand and left the game in clear pain. A rough break for a lineup that was already dealing with injuries.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:13 PM PST
The first home run of the 2026 World Baseball Classic belongs to Robbie Perkins, who clubs a two-run homer to break a scoreless tie for Australia.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM PST
Yu Chang, Taiwan’s all-time leader in MLB appearances, gets the country’s first hit off Jack O’Loughlin, who replaced Wells in the fourth inning.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:54 PM PST
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:44 PM PST
Here’s the result of every at-bat against the Australia starter through three innings: strikeout, pop-out, walk, pop-out, pop-out, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout, strikeout.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:23 PM PST
Facing the hard-throwing Jo-Hsi Hsu, the White Sox infielder laces a line drive to right field.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM PST
