The 2026 World Baseball Basic dates and swimming pools have been introduced. Houston, Texas, and Miami, Florida, will function host websites in the US, whereas Tokyo, Japan, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, may also host. The 20-team competitors shall be held March 5-17, 2026.
The 16 groups that completed within the high 4 of their respective swimming pools in 2023 are invited, together with 4 groups advancing from qualifiers in 2025. Under is a take a look at the swimming pools and host websites.
Pool A | San Juan
Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba, Panama and a qualifier
Pool B | Houston
United States, Nice Britain, Italy, Mexico and a qualifier
Pool C | Tokyo
Japan, Australia, Czechia, South Korea and a qualifier
Pool D | Miami
Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands, Venezuela and a qualifier
Japan is the defending champion after profitable the 2023 event in a thriller over the US. The Japanese staff went undefeated within the event, changing into the second membership to perform the feat. Japan has received three of the 5 tournaments all-time with the Dominican Republic and United States proudly owning one title apiece.
The event loved a profitable 2023 version. Attendance topped 1 million for the primary time in historical past, and the 47 video games averaged a WBC-best 24,805 followers. The ultimate recreation got here right down to the ultimate at-bat with Japan’s Shohei Ohtani putting out the US’ Mike Trout to safe the championship. That momentum has WBC officers hopeful that 2026 will as soon as once more convey followers to the parks.
The 2026 quarterfinals shall be held in Houston and Miami, with the semifinals and last in Miami. Tokyo, Houston and Miami final hosted video games in 2023, whereas San Juan final hosted in 2013.
