All you need to know about World Baseball Classic 2026

The biggest event in global baseball is fast approaching. And with the tournament just one month away, the rosters for the 20 teams competing for the title of the world's greatest have been announced.

Read on below for everything else you need to know about the tournament, which is entering its sixth edition. We’ll also be updating this page as more information becomes available the closer we get to the tournament.

When does the World Baseball Classic begin?
The tournament will begin on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome (March 4 at 10 p.m. ET in the United States) with Chinese Taipei and Australia playing in the very first game. The other pools -- located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and loanDepot park in Miami -- will begin play on March 6.

How can I get tickets?
Single game tickets are now available for all groups. Click here for more information.

How to watch?
World Baseball Classic games in the United States will be available to watch and stream on FOX Media, including FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App, FOX One and Tubi. Japanese-language games in Japan will be available on Netflix. More information on where to watch around the world will be shared soon.

What is the format of the tournament?
Each pool -- Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami -- features five teams playing in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals. The teams that advance from Tokyo will go to Miami, and the teams from San Juan will play in Houston.

The winners of the quarterfinal games will then meet in Miami for the semifinals and championship round. The championship will be held on March 17.

How did the teams qualify for the tournament?
The top four teams from each pool in 2023 automatically secured their place in the 2026 tournaments. The teams that finished in last place had to play in Qualifiers held this past March. Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua clinched their spots from the Taipei Qualifier. Colombia and Brazil advanced from the Tucson Qualifier.

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Who is playing in the tournament?
A number of stars have already committed to the World Baseball Classic and should play barring any unforeseen injuries. 2023 World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani is back, Salvador Perez will guide Venezuela, the Dominican Republic roster is stacked with Major League stars and the United States are trying to bounce back from its 2023 second-place finish with a veritable who's who of big league superstars.

Full roster information will be available on Thursday night following MLB Network's Roster Reveal show.

Will there be a pitch clock?

Yes! For the first time in tournament history, the World Baseball Classic will use a pitch clock. The timer will follow Major League rules: Pitchers will have 15 seconds to deliver the pitch with the bases empty and 18 seconds when runners are on. Batters will need to be ready and in the box with at least 8 seconds on the clock.

Will there be the Automatic Ball-Strike System (ABS)?

No, ABS will not be used at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

How will pitcher use limitations and pitch count work?

As fans from previous tournaments know, the pitch count rules are extremely important. The skipper who can best manage his pitching staff and the days off required in between appearances will usually go far in the tournament. Here is a brief overview of how this will work:

- Pitchers cannot throw more than 65 pitches in a single game in the First Round of the tournament, 80 pitches in the Quarter Final round and 95 pitches in the Championship Round. However, pitchers can pass this limit to complete a batter's plate appearance.

- Pitchers who throw 50 or more pitches in a single contest, will be required to have a minimum of four days' rest before he can be used again. 30 or more pitches will require one day of rest, and pitchers who throw on consecutive days will also be required to rest for a day before pitching again.

Are there mercy rules?

Yes, games in the First Round and Quarterfinal Round will end when a team leads by 10 or more runs after the completion of the seventh inning, or 15 or more runs after the fifth inning.

How will the tiebreakers work?

Tiebreakers came to the forefront in 2023 when all five teams playing in Taiwan had identical 2-2 records. Here is how it will work in 2026:

• The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head performance between the teams who are tied. For example, if three or more teams are tied and one team defeated the other two, they would be ranked first.
• The second step will be to rank teams by the fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games between the tied teams.
• The third step would rank teams according to the fewest earned runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games between the tied teams.
• The fourth step would rank the teams according to highest batting average in games between the tied teams.
• Should the teams still be tied after that, the standings will be determined by the drawing of lots conducted by WBCI.

How will teams qualify for the next tournament? How will teams be relegated from the tournament?

The top four teams from each pool -- meaning the top 16 teams in the tournament -- will automatically qualify for the next World Baseball Classic. The team who finishes in last place in each pool will be relegated and will need to re-qualify for a future tournament.

What are some of the storylines to look out for?
There are exciting reasons to follow each and every team in the tournament, but here is a quick bulletpoint list for some of the biggest storylines that could dominate the 2026 tournament.

• Japan is the only nation to win multiple World Baseball Classic tournaments and it's done it three times. Can it go back to back and collect a fourth?
• Can the USA, bringing its most talented roster in Classic history, get revenge and win its first title since 2017?
• Will powerhouses the Dominican Republic (2013 champions) and Korea (semifinalists in 2006 and runners-up in 2009) bounce back after failing to advance out of the group stage in 2023?
• How will the fan favorite Czech Republic, bringing a team of amateur ballplayers -- remember, it was electrical worker Ondřej Satoria who struck out Ohtani in one of the '23 Classic's most iconic moments -- fare in its second World Baseball Classic appearance?
• Can Chinese Taipei follow up its 2024 Premier12 gold medal -- the first gold ever won by the team -- with a championship run in '26?
• What will beloved manager Dusty Baker bring to Nicaragua, which is playing in its second consecutive World Baseball Classic?
• Can Puerto Rico finally win it all after placing second in 2013 and '17?
• Every year, a team manages to surprise. Mexico did it in 2023, coming a Munetaka Murakami RBI double away from reaching the championship. Who will it be in '26?

We could easily continue to list out fascinating stories and important rivalries for every team, but we'll stop there for now. For more information on the tournament and international baseball please check out WorldBaseballClassic.com, and @wbcbaseball on X, Instagram, and Facebook.