The tournament, which features international teams made up of some of the world's best baseball talent, will begin with four Pool Groups competing from March 5-11.  The World Baseball Classic is usually held every three to four years around the MLB’s spring training in March.  Japan will compete once again as the reigning WBC champions after defeating Team USA, 3-2, in the championship game in 2023 with the help of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The first 16 teams set to compete in the 2026 WBC are: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama (Pool A); USA, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain (Pool B); Japan, Australia, Korea, Czechia (Pool C); Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel (Pool D). Four more qualifying teams will be added ahead of the tournament to round out the final 20, and the initial round of play will take place according to the following schedule:

MARCH 5-10

  • Pool C at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan

MARCH 6-11

  • Pool A at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Pool B at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas
  • Pool D at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida

Miami will also host the semifinals and championship game. Japan is the only country to have won the WBC more than once, taking home the championship hardware in 2009 and 2006 in addition to 2023. Other past winners include the U.S. (2017) and the Dominican Republic (2013).

Team USA will open the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The United States, which finished as the runner-up to Japan in 2023, will be in Pool B with Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and a to-be-determined qualifier, with games taking place from March 6 to 11.

In addition to the full pool assignments, the WBC announced quarterfinal rounds will take place in Houston and Miami on March 13 and 14, 2026, while the semifinals and championship rounds will take place in Miami from March 15 to 17. The championship game will be held March 17 at loanDepot Park. Defending champion Japan, which has won three of the five World Baseball Classics, will open the quarterfinals in Pool C in Tokyo, facing off against Australia, Korea, Czechia and a qualifier. Pool A will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and feature Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama and a qualifier. Pool D is set for Miami with Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel and a qualifier rounding out the field.

The United States won its only championship WBC game in 2017, defeating Puerto Rico 8-0, marking the largest margin of victory in event history.