The 2026 World Baseball Classic has begun with pool play, and the sport’s best player hasn’t needed long to make a statement. Shohei Ohtani homered against South Korea early Saturday morning at the Tokyo Dome — his second homer in as many games in the tournament — as Japan beat 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. The United States needed a while to get going before eventually routing Brazil 15-5 in its opener.
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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.
Live101 updates
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 int he 9th 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 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 World Baseball Classic history.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 3:58 AM PST
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
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
In addition to South Korea-Japan, 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)
Noon: 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)
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 2:31 AM PST
After Shohei Ohtani walked to open the bottom of the first inning, Seiya Suzuki hit a one-out homer to cut into South Korea’s lead.
South Korea 3, Japan 2 after one.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 2:25 AM PST
Japan is facing adversity for the first time in the World Baseball Classic.
South Korea opened the game with three straight singles then hit a two-out souble to go up 3-0 on Japan.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Yusei Kikuchi got in trouble early. He looked like he might make it out of the first inning fairly unscathed but Bo Gyeong Moon laced a double to drive in a pair of runs with two outs.
Sat, March 7, 2026 at 2:09 AM PST
Japan opens Saturday’s World Baseball Classic against South Korea at the Tokyo Dome. Shohei Ohtani is batting leadoff again.
After a five-RBI game that included a grand slam, he’ll look to keep Japan undefeated in pool play.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 9:41 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Chinese Taipei finally found itself on the positive end of a big World Baseball Classic blowout, pummeling Czechia 14-0. The game was called after seven innings due to the WBC mercy rule.
Stuart Fairchild and Yu Cheng each drove in 4 runs, while Chen-Wei Chen had 3 RBI. Chang batted 3-for-5, as well. Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang was credited with the win, starting the game with 2 2/3 innings and 4 strikeouts.
The two previous blowouts Chinese Taipei participated in were losses, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. In 2013, they were defeated by Cuba, 14-0. And on Thursday, Japan cruised to a 13-0 win.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 9:15 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Chinese Taipei poured it on in the sixth inning. Stuart Fairchild led off with a walk, then stole second base, He came around to score on a single to right field from Yu Chang.
After An-Ko Lin struck out, both Kungkuan Giljegiljaw and Lyle Lin were hit by pitches. Boris Vecerka then walked Cheng-Yu Chang to load the bases. Chen-Wei Chen followed with a double to score two runs.
Filip Capka relieved Vecerka, but gave up another run on a groundout from Tsung-Che Cheng. Chinese Taipei ended the inning with five runs, increasing its lead to 14-0.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 8:58 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Yu Chang’s 2-run single with two outs in the fourth inning boosted Chinese Taipei’s lead over Czechia to 8-0. In the fifth, the lead increased to 9-0 on Chen-Wei Chen’s sacrifice fly.
Chang made it a 10-0 game in the sixth with an RBI single off Martin Schneider.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 8:49 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brazil trimmed the U.S. lead to 8-5 in the eighth inning on Lucas Ramirez’s second home run of the game. But the Brazilian pitchers couldn’t find the strike zone in the ninth, walking five batters to help the U.S. build a 10-run lead. Overall, Brazil walked 17 U.S. batters in Team USA’s 15-5 win.
Mason Miller finished the game, striking out his final three batters after walking Dante Bichette Jr. to lead off the inning.
Brice Turang drove in four runs., with Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony each getting two RBI to lead the U.S. lineup. Logan Webb allowed one run over four innings to get the win.
Brazil will try to shake off this loss against Italy at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. And Team USA will look to move to 2-0 in Pool B play against Great Britain at 8 p.m. ET Saturday. Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start for the U.S.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 8:32 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
And another one! Brazil issues its 17th walk of the game, as Pete Crow-Armstrong draws a bases-loaded pass off Vitor Takahashi. That gave the U.S. a 13-5 lead.
Takahashi then committed a balk while facing Brice Turang, which brought Cal Raleigh in to score for a 14-5 USA lead.
The U.S. then put the ball in play with Turang grounding out to shortstop, That drove in Roman Anthony to give Team USA a 15-5 lead.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 8:26 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Roman Anthony has two RBI for Team USA, driving in Kyle Schwarber with a bases-loaded single to make it 12-5.
Anthony is 2-for-4 tonight.
Fri, March 6, 2026 at 8:25 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Make that 16 walks for Brazil. And another USA run.
Vitor Takahashi came on in relief for Tomas Lopez, who walked three consecutive batters. Then Takahashi walked Cal Raleigh on four pitches (technically three, as the first ball was a pitch clock violation).