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. A few games have already been played — most notably two wins for Australia and a dominant start for Japan — but the full schedule began Friday.
Advertisement
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.
Live73 updates
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s RBI double and a run-scoring single from Julio Rodriguez boosted the Dominican Republic’s lead over Nicaragua to 12-3 in the eighth inning.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:08 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Dominican Republic added to its lead in the eighth inning on a solo home run by Julio Rodriguez off Osman Gutierrez. Geraldo Perdomo followed with a walk, and Fernando Tatis Jr. reached base with a single.
DR manager Albert Pujols then pinch-hit Oneil Cruz for Ketel Marte, and the move paid off with a gigantic, upper-deck shot for a three-run homer.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Michael Wacha takes over for Logan Webb on the mound for the U.S. On the field, Pete Crow-Armstrong goes to center field for Byron Buxton.
Webb pitched four innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out six Brazil batters with no walks. Buxton hit 0-for-2 with an RBI and run scored.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:55 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brice Turang hit his second double of the game, clearing the bases and scoring three runs for the U.S. Cal Raleigh, Roman Anthony and Byron Buxton all came around to score on the opposite-field drive off Daikin Park’s left-field wall.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
With the bases loaded, Brazil pitcher Gabriel Barbosa couldn’t make a mistake. However, he hit Byron Buxton on a fastball that sailed too far inside, bringing in a run and giving the U.S. a 4-1 lead.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil is having difficulty adapting to the pitch clock, it appears. After Lucas Ramirez was called out for not returning to the batter’s box in time in the third inning, pitcher Gabriel Barbosa is called for a pitch clock violation that results in a walk to USA’s Roman Anthony.
That loads the bases for Team USA with Alex Bregman and Cal Raleigh drawing walks before Anthony. One out in the fifth inning.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:43 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to roll, scoring his second run of the day on a sacrifice fly from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to left field.
The DR holds a 6-3 lead over Nicaragua in the bottom of the seventh.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil pitcher Thyago Vieira appeared to feel a twinge in his left calf while facing Alex Bregman in the fifth inning.
Teammates and coaches approached the mound to see if Vieira needed to leave the game, but he stayed in. However, he then walked Bregman, and it appeared that he was having difficulty landing on his front leg through his delivery.
Gabriel Barbosa is coming on to relieve Vieira.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:33 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Dominican Republic took a 5-3 lead over Nicaragua in the sixth inning on a 2-run home run from Junior Caminero off Stiven Cruz.
If there was any question about how excited Caminero was to hit that homer, check out how fast he ran around the bases.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:22 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil’s Lucas Ramirez hit a home run in his first plate appearance versus U.S. pitcher Logan Webb. His second time facing Webb ended much differently.
Ramirez was called out on a pitch clock violation for not stepping back into the batter’s box on time. That ended the third inning with Brazil going down in order and Team USA maintaining its 3-1 lead.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil’s Joseph Contreras opened eyes, hitting 98 mph while facing Team USA’s formidable lineup. But the 17-year-old phenom issued three walks and threw two wild pitches, leading to a run and a 3-1 lead for the U.S.
Contreras lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks. He threw 33 pitches, 13 for strikes.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM PST
Jack Baer
Puerto Rico did all its damage in a fifth-inning rally, while Seth Lugo and six relievers, including closer Edwin Diaz, combined for a shutout. A big result in Pool A, which also features Cuba and Canada.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 6:04 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Joseph Contreras might have demonstrated his youth via his control issues in the third inning.
After Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff single, he advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Schwarber went to third on an Alex Bregman grounder.
Facing Cal Raleigh, Contreras threw another wild pitch that allowed Schwarber to score. After walking Raleigh, Contreras was taken out of the game, and Tiago Da Silva came on in relief.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:55 PM PST
Jack Baer
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:53 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Young Joseph Contreras looked as if he might have a “welcome to the big leagues” inning facing Team USA in the second.
Contreras gave up a double to Brice Turang, then walked Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper. Up next for the U.S. with the bases loaded was captain Aaron Judge.
However, Contreras got Judge to hit into a 5-4-3 double play, escaping the inning with no runs allowed.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:43 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Joseph Contreras is in the game to pitch for Brazil. He showed his talent right away, hitting 97 mph with his first pitch.
The son of 11-year major leaguer José Contreras, the 17-year-old phenom is committed to pitch for Vanderbilt.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:33 PM PST
Jack Baer
It won’t be a shutout for Team USA. Lucas Ramirez, the son of slugger Manny Ramirez, welcomes Logan Webb with a leadoff home run.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:31 PM PST
Jack Baer
Meanwhile, the DR just tied it again vs. Nicaragua via an RBI single from Julio Rodriguez.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:29 PM PST
Jack Baer
This nearly got ugly after Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman both reached base after the Judge homer, but Bo Takahashi kept the deficit at two with groundouts from Cal Raleigh and Roman Anthony. However, the starter is already at 37 pitches against a lineup built to grind pitchers to dust.
Here comes Logan Webb.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM PST
Jack Baer