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 the reigning champion after defeating Team USA 3-2 in the 2023 final. While a few games have already been played — most notably two wins for Australia — the full schedule begins on Friday.
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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.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
Australia got some insurance runs in the ninth inning and is now 2-0 in the WBC. They shockingly reached group play in 2023 thanks to a win over Korea, and can do the same thing with a win on Monday.
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Jack Baer
One inning later, the Australians lead, courtesy of a three-run homer from Curtis Mead.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
The first run of the game belongs to Czechia, which takes a 1-0 lead on a second-inning rally. They did Australia a favor, though, when Martin Muzik bunted on ball 4 with a 3-0 count and no outs. A walk would have loaded the bases, and Australia pitcher Josh Hendrickson had thrown seven straight balls at that point.
Vojtech Mensik brought in the run a batter later, then Williams Escala flied out to end the inning.
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Jack Baer
Game 3 of the 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway at the Tokyo Dome, with Australia looking to follow up their win over Chinese Taipei and Czechia trying to bounce back from their lopsided loss to Korea.
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Ian Casselberry
The Dominican Republic will be without shortstop Jeremy Peña for the WBC after he fractured a finger during Wednesday’s exhibition with the Detroit Tigers.
The injury was sustained when Peña fielded a hard-hit grounder from Wencell Pérez in the third inning. The Houston Astros’ shortstop wanted to stay in the game but left after striking out in the bottom of the inning. X-rays revealed the fracture on Thursday.
Geraldo Perdomo is expected to take over at shorstop for Peña for D.R., while infielder Amed Rosario could also fill in. The Dominican Republic begins the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Pool D play versus Nicaragua at 7 p.m. ET Friday at loanDepot Park in Miami.
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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.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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 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 becoming a tournament darling in 2023. Korea, meanwhile, will look to get back to the championship game after being the runner-up in 2009 but failing to advance past the first round since then.
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.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
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.
