The 2026 World Baseball Classic: A Must-See Event
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is approaching, promising to be the most important event in international baseball. Twenty national teams from around the world will compete for the coveted title of champions. The official announcement of the 30-player rosters will be made this Thursday at 7:00 PM (ET) via MLB Network and MLB.com, where each country will announce its final roster.Tournament Dates and Locations
The tournament will kick off on March 5th at the Tokyo Dome, with the opening match between Chinese Taipei and Australia (March 4th at 10:00 p.m. ET in the United States). The other groups will start action on March 6 at the following locations:- Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Daikin Park, Houston
- loanDepot park, Miami
Tickets and Streaming
Tickets for the matches in San Juan are now available. Individual tickets for Tokyo, Houston, and Miami are on sale to the general public. In the United States, World Baseball Classic games will be broadcast by FOX Media, including FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One, and Tubi. In Japan, games in Japanese will be available through Netflix.Competition Format
Each group will be made up of five teams, who will compete in a round-robin format. The top two from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The qualified teams from the Tokyo group will play the quarterfinals in Miami, while those from San Juan will do so in Houston. The semifinals and the final will be held in Miami, with the decisive match scheduled for March 17.Team Ranking
The top four teams from each group in the 2023 World Baseball Classic secured their qualification for the 2026 tournament. The remaining spots were decided in qualifying tournaments held last March, where Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua earned their spots in Taipei, while Colombia and Brazil advanced from Tucson.Featured Stars and Selections
Several figures from world baseball have confirmed their participation, barring unforeseen injuries. Among them are Shohei Ohtani, Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Classic; Salvador Pérez leading Venezuela; a Dominican Republic loaded with Major League stars; and a United States team that will seek revenge after finishing as runners-up in 2023. The complete rosters will be available after the MLB Network special reveal program this Thursday night.Stories to Follow
Japan, the only country to conquer multiple World Classic titles, will seek a fourth crown. The United States will try to win its first championship since 2017, while powers like the Dominican Republic, Korea, and Puerto Rico will seek to redeem themselves after their results in the previous edition. Also noteworthy is the return of the Czech Republic, a fan favorite; the boost from Chinese Taipei after conquering the Premier12 2024; the participation of Nicaragua under the direction of Dusty Baker; and the expectation of a new surprise selection, as happened with Mexico in 2023. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be an unmissable event, filled with emotions, historical rivalries, and moments that will continue to strengthen baseball globally.Encarnación assured that the players will go out onto the field to give their all and to raise the national flag high.I believe that we Dominicans should all feel proud. We have a roster with which we can compete against any team in the world. The guys are prepared and motivated. Each of the players has put in 100%, I would say 110%, to represent our flag.
Edwin Encarnación
