The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway in pool play, and the sport’s best player hasn’t needed long to make a statement. Shohei Ohtani homered against Korea early Saturday morning at the Tokyo Dome — his second homer in as many games in the tournament — as Japan beat Korea 8-6 to improve to 2-0.
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. After a few games in Tokyo to get things going, the full schedule began Friday. In its opener, the United States needed a while to get going before eventually routing Brazil 15-5.
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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.
Live111 updates
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 5:32 PM PST
Jack Baer
The best play of the WBC now belongs to Great Britain right fielder Trayce Thompson, who robbed his former Dodgers teammate Will Smith of a game-tying homer.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM PST
Jack Baer
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 5:10 PM PST
Jack Baer
Two-time reigning AL Cy Young champion Tarik Skubal will be one-and-done for Team USA. He begins his only WBC start by allowing a first-pitch homer to Great Britain’s Nate Eaton.
The hit was initially called a double, but it landed above the yellow line.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:28 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa made several changes for the starting lineup versus Great Britain and pitcher Tyler Viza.
Kyle Schwarber will lead off after batting fourth on Friday against Brazil. Bryce Harper moves from the No. 2 spot to cleanup, and Alex Bregman moves up to No. 2 after batting fifth.
Will Smith gets the start at catcher, Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center field, Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop and Ernie Clement will start at second base. (Brice Turang got 4 RBI and batted 3-for-6 against Brazil.)
On the mound for Team USA will be Tarik Skubal.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 1:20 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Dante Nori’s two home runs versus Brazil made him the second-youngest player in WBC history with a multi-homer game, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.
The youngest is Brazil’s Lucas Ramirez, who hit two homers on Friday night against the United States.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 1:05 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil lost its second WBC game in less than 24 hours, falling 8-0 to Italy on Saturday afternoon. In its two games thus far, Brazil has allowed 23 runs.
Dante Nori hit two home runs, going deep in the seventh and eighth innings to lead the way. Dominic Canzone also homered for Italy, which won its opening game in Pool B play.
Murilo Gouvea, Oscar Nakaoshi and Caio De Araujo served up the home runs for Brazil, allowing a combined six runs in the final two innings. Hector Villarroel took the loss, giving up two runs, four hits and two walks in two innings of work after starter Enzo Sawayama pitched four scoreless frames.
However, Brazil walked only three batters after putting 17 on base in Friday night’s 15-5 loss to the United States.
Nori and Jon Berti each knocked three hits for Italy, while Canzone and Kyle Teel got two hits apiece. Canzone also drove in four runs.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 11:56 AM PST
Sean Leahy
After Jeter Downs put Nicaragua ahead 3-1 in the top of the eighth inning, the Netherlands answered in the bottom of the ninth. Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-out single, Xander Bogaerts followed with a double, and then Albies stepped to the plate and ended things.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 11:18 AM PST
Sean Leahy
An Owen Caissie two-run home run in the second inning and a four-run eighth inning helped power Canada to its first win of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 8:45 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The Miami Marlins prospect went yard off Colombia’s Austin Bergner to give Canada a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 8:43 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The Canada catcher has thrown two Colombian runners out in the opening two innings.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 5:13 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Japan hit four home runs, including two from Seiya Suzuki and another from Shohei Ohtani, in the win over Korea to improve to 2-0. Defense was also on display, as Ukyo Shuto made this catch in the ninth inning.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 5:01 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Yuki Matsumoto allowed a run to cut Team Japan’s lead to 8-6 over Team Korea, but then he notched a big strikeout of Hyeseong Kim with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 4:39 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Team Korea reliever Young Kyu Kim walked Seiya Suzuki to give Team Japan a 6-5 lead, and then Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run single to make it 8-5.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 4:10 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Suzuki joins Tetsuto Yamada (2017) and Shinnosuke Abe (2013) as the only Team Japan players with multi-home-run games in the World Baseball Classic.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:58 AM PST
Jordan Shusterman
Shohei Ohtani singled to reach base for the third time in the game — and the sixth time in seven at-bats so far in the WBC — but Japan failed to score.
It’s South Korea 5, Japan 5 after five innings.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:48 AM PST
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:30 AM PST
After surrendering three homers in the third inning, South Korea didn’t need long to respond.
Hyeseong Kim’s two-run blast with one out in the fourth inning tied Japan at 5 in what has quickly become the most exciting game so far in the 2026 WBC.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:21 AM PST
Jordan Shusterman
Japan flexed its muscle with three homers in the third inning.
After Ohtani’s blast, Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida went back-to-back.
Japan leads South Korea 5-3 after three innings. Here’s a look at Ohtani’s homer:
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:12 AM PST
Shohei Ohtani is no match so far for WBC pitching. He homered for the second straight game in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 3.
Suzuki followed with his second homer of the game to give Japan its first lead.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 2:33 AM PST
Jordan Shusterman
Here’s the full schedule of WBC pool play for Saturday:
5 a.m.: Japan vs. South Korea (FS1)
11 a.m.: Canada vs. Colombia (FS2)
12 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Nicaragua (Tubi)
1 p.m.: Italy vs. Brazil (Fox app only)
6 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Panama (FS1)
7 p.m.: Venezuela vs. Israel (FS1)
8 p.m.: U.S. vs. Great Britain (Fox)
10 p.m.: South Korea vs. Chinese Taipei (FS2)