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February 24th 2026 - 7 Min Read

World Baseball Classic 2026 Preview & Odds

The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is the sixth edition of the premier international baseball tournament, featuring national teams competing for global supremacy. It's often called the "World Cup of Baseball," showcasing top MLB stars and other professionals playing for their countries with intense national pride.

Japan enters as the defending champion after defeating the United States in the 2023 final. The tournament runs from March 5 to March 17, 2026, with 20 teams from across five continents.

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) holds significant global importance as the premier international baseball tournament, often dubbed the "World Cup of Baseball."

What Is the World Baseball Classic?

The WBC has grown from 16 teams (2006–2017) to 20 in 2023 and 2026, incorporating qualifiers for emerging nations to broaden participation. It has produced iconic moments—like upsets, star performances (Ohtani, Ichiro, Canó), and passionate national rivalries—while boosting baseball's global profile, especially in Asia and Latin America.

Sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)—baseball's international governing body—and organized in partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association, the WBC fills a unique niche in the international landscape.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) features a structured format designed to maintain competitive balance among 20 national teams, combined with a clear qualification process that rewards strong prior performance while providing pathways for emerging nations.

2026 WBC Tournament Format

Pool Play (Round 1): The 20 teams are divided into four pools (A, B, C, and D) of five teams each. Each pool plays a round-robin schedule.

Knockout Stage (Quarterfinals): The top two teams from each pool advance to a single-elimination bracket.

Pool A & B winners and runners-up advance to the Houston quarterfinals.

Pool C & D winners and runners-up advance to the Miami quarterfinals.

Championship Round: The four remaining teams compete in single-elimination semifinals, followed by the Championship Game on March 17, 2026, in Miami.

Automatic Berths (16 Teams): The top four finishers from each of the four pools in the 2023 WBC automatically qualified for the 2026 tournament.

Qualifying Tournaments (4 Teams): Eight teams competed for the final four spots in two separate qualifying tournaments held in February and March 2025.
Taipei Qualifier: Nicaragua and Chinese Taipei advanced.

Tucson Qualifier: Colombia and Brazil advanced.

World Baseball Classic 2026 Schedule

The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) runs from March 5 to March 17, 2026, marking the sixth edition of this premier international baseball tournament.

Overall Tournament Dates

Full tournament: March 5–17, 2026

This covers pool play through the championship final.

The event features 20 national teams competing across four host venues in Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

Breakdown by Phase

Pool Play (First Round): March 5–11, 2026

Round-robin games in each of the four pools.

Pool C (Tokyo Dome, Japan): Starts earliest on March 5 (due to time zone and scheduling).

Pools A, B, and D (San Juan, Houston, Miami): Primarily March 6–11.

The first games kick off March 5 in Tokyo (e.g., potential opening matchups), with widespread action starting March 6 across venues. Note: Some sources list initial games as early as March 4 evening ET (March 5 in Asia) due to time differences.

Knockout Stage (Quarterfinals onward): March 13–17, 2026

Quarterfinals: March 13–14 (split between Houston and Miami).

Semifinals: March 15–16 (in Miami at loanDepot park).

Championship Final: March 17 (in Miami at loanDepot park).

Host Cities and Venues

Japan

City: Tokyo

Stadium: Tokyo Dome

Pool: Pool C (March 5–10, 2026)

The Tokyo Dome has hosted WBC pool games in every edition since 2006, making it a historic venue for Asian baseball powerhouses like defending champion Japan.

Puerto Rico (U.S. territory)

City: San Juan

Stadium: Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Pool: Pool A (March 6–11, 2026)

Returns as a host for the first time since 2013; it's a passionate baseball hub with strong ties to Puerto Rican stars.

United States (two host cities)

City: Houston, Texas

Stadium: Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros; formerly known as Minute Maid Park)

Pool: Pool B (March 6–11, 2026)

Additional role: Hosts some quarterfinal games (March 13–14, 2026)

Debuting as a WBC host venue in 2026.

City: Miami, Florida

Stadium: loanDepot park (home of the Miami Marlins)

Pool: Pool D (March 6–11, 2026)

Additional role: Hosts quarterfinal games (March 13–14, 2026), semifinals (March 15–16, 2026), and the championship final (March 17, 2026)

World Baseball Classic 2026 USA Roster

Pitchers

David Bednar (RHP, New York Yankees – note: some sources list affiliation updates)
Matthew Boyd (LHP, Chicago Cubs)
Garrett Cleavinger (LHP, Tampa Bay Rays)
Clay Holmes (RHP)
Griffin Jax (RHP)
Paul Skenes (RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates – ace candidate)
Tarik Skubal (LHP, Detroit Tigers – recent Cy Young winner)
(Additional arms round out the staff, including relievers and starters for depth; full details on usabaseball.com or mlb.com)

Catchers

Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Infielders

Alex Bregman (3B, Boston Red Sox – noted affiliation shift)
Ernie Clement (UTIL, Toronto Blue Jays)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, free agent – unsigned but committed)
Bryce Harper (1B/OF, Philadelphia Phillies)
Gunnar Henderson (3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles)
Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Kansas City Royals)

Outfielders

Aaron Judge (OF, New York Yankees – captain)
Corbin Carroll (RF, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, Chicago Cubs)
Byron Buxton (CF, Minnesota Twins)
Roman Anthony (OF – prospect addition)
Kyle Schwarber (DH/OF)

Designated Hitter / Utility

Kyle Schwarber (often slotted as DH for power)

Projected Starting Rotation

SP1: Tarik Skubal (LHP, Detroit Tigers) — Often slotted first for his proven postseason-like stuff and experience; many see him as the anchor against tough opponents like Mexico or Italy.
SP2: Paul Skenes (RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates) — The electric young phenom; some projections flip him to SP1 for his strikeout upside and hype.
SP3: Logan Webb (RHP, San Francisco Giants) — Groundball machine and All-Star; provides stability with his sinker and durability.
SP4: Joe Ryan (RHP, Minnesota Twins) — High-strikeout All-Star; rounds out a formidable top four with swing-and-miss stuff.
SP5/Depth: Nolan McLean (RHP, New York Mets) — Top prospect with big-league experience; serves as the next in line or spot starter.

Top Position Players / Hitters

Aaron Judge (OF, New York Yankees) — Team captain, three-time AL MVP (including back-to-back recent wins), perennial home run leader, and batting title contender. His power and presence anchor the offense; he's the face of this squad.
Cal Raleigh (C, Seattle Mariners) — Record-setting power-hitting catcher (e.g., 60+ HR seasons), recent MVP runner-up, elite defensive backstop with massive pop.
Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Kansas City Royals) — Dynamic young superstar, Gold Glove-level defender with elite speed, contact, and power; expected to start every game at shortstop.
Kyle Schwarber (DH/OF) — Power-hitting force, multi-time All-Star, provides consistent thump and experience in high-pressure spots.
Bryce Harper (1B/OF, Philadelphia Phillies) — Multi-time MVP (2015, 2021), veteran slugger with a clutch pedigree and leadership.

World Baseball Classic Betting Odds & Markets

Top Contenders for Outright Winner

United States: -115
Japan: +330
Dominican Republic: +400
Venezuela: +900
Puerto Rico: +1300
Mexico: +2200
Canada / South Korea: +3500
Cuba / Colombia / Panama / Italy: +7500
Brazil / Nicaragua / Chinese Taipei: +15000

Pool A Winner Odds

Puerto Rico: -185
Canada: +400
Cuba: +600
Colombia: +700
Panama: +3500

Pool B Winner Odds

United States: -1000
Mexico: +700
Italy: +4000
Brazil / Great Britain: +5000

Pool C Winner Odds

Japan: -550
Republic of Korea (South Korea): +800
Chinese Taipei: +1100
Australia: +2200
Czechia: Much longer/not prominently listed

Pool D Winner Odds

Dominican Republic: -155 to
Venezuela: +120
Others: +1000 or Higher

2026 World Baseball Classic individual game/match betting (also called moneylines, run lines, totals, and props for individual games) becomes available closer to the tournament start (March 5 in Tokyo, March 6 elsewhere)

2026 WBC MVP Odds (Top Contenders)

Aaron Judge (USA): +700 (favorite; 3-time AL MVP, power threat in loaded lineup)
Shohei Ohtani (Japan): +1200 (defending 2023 MVP, elite hitter despite no pitching)
Tarik Skubal (USA): +1200 (back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, potential ace)
Bryce Harper (USA): +1600 (veteran slugger making international debut)
Kyle Schwarber (USA): +1600 (proven power in clutch spots)
Paul Skenes (USA): +1600 (recent NL Cy Young, electric young arm)
Gunnar Henderson (USA): +1800 (rising star, versatile infielder)
Others: +2500 or Higher

Other futures and specials will be available closer to the tournament's start.

World Baseball Classic Winners (Past Tournaments)

World Baseball Classic Champions (2006–2023)

2023: Japan (defeated USA 3-2)
2017: United States (defeated Puerto Rico 8-0)
2013: Dominican Republic (defeated Puerto Rico 3-0)
2009: Japan (defeated South Korea 5-3 in 10 innings)
2006: Japan (defeated Cuba 10-6)
Most Titles: Japan (3)
MVP Winners: Daisuke Matsuzaka (2006, 2009), Robinson Canó (2013), Marcus Stroman (2017), Shohei Ohtani (2023)