How does the World Baseball Classic work?
This year, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) returns. The first game is on Thursday, March 5, at the Tokyo Dome. According to MLB.com author Michael Clair, the first game will be between Chinese Taipei and Australia. But the Tokyo Dome is not the stadium the games will be played in; other stadium locations include: located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and loanDepot park in Miami, which will begin play on March 6. The championship game will be played on March 17. The WBC is not limited to only current Major League Baseball players; athletes from other countries are allowed to represent their home countries.
The tournament consists of four different pools; another name for this would be pool play. Pool A will play in Puerto Rico, Pool B will play in Houston, Texas, Pool C is scheduled to play in Tokyo, Japan, and Pool D will play in Miami, Florida. There will be a total of twenty countries participating in the tournament this year.
How do teams qualify for the WBC?
The top four teams from each pool in 2023 automatically secured their place in the 2026 tournaments. The teams that finished in last place had to play in prequalifying games held in March of 2025.
What are the odds of winning the championship?
Team USA has the best odds of winning the WBC; however, Japan and the Dominican Republic are not far behind the US. Every other country is considered an underdog because they do not have the talent that the top three teams have, and will be lucky to have a shot at playing for the trophy.
Who plays in the WBC?
If athletes are from one of the countries participating in the World Baseball Classic, they can represent their home country. It does not matter if athletes are an MLB prospect, current player, retired, or even some with a regular job; players can still be a part of the team. According to ESPN author, Kiley McDaniel, Travis Bazzana, the top prospect for the Cleveland Guardians, will be playing for Australia. The best example for this is Team Czech Republic; their team is made up of middle-aged men with regular jobs. Whereas Team USA and the Dominican Republic are made up of MLB stars wanting to bring home the championship trophy for their country.
Advantages and disadvantages?
There are advantages and disadvantages to the WBC. A couple of disadvantages are that current MLB players and prospects miss out on the Major League Baseball Spring Training games with their own teams. Another disadvantage is that some countries do not have the firepower like other countries, so that means the chances of them going far are significantly lower. On the other hand, an advantage of the WBC is that it helps put names on the radar for MLB teams, depending on performance, obviously. One more advantage is that the tournament helps the players get ready for the MLB season that is coming up in late March.
Conclusion
Overall, I am personally excited to watch the WBC games and see which teams perform the best and which teams fall short. Obviously, I am rooting for Team USA, but I would not mind if Team Dominican Republic won the championship either. We will see who will take the championship on March 17, 2026, at LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL.
