The Classic is great. Here’s how to supercharge it even more

The World Baseball Classic began as something of an experiment 20 years ago.

Many thought it would fizzle and quickly become forgotten. Early on it was difficult for the event to garner attention, and to have clubs and players buy in.

Now, though, the decision to stick with it is paying off in a major way. Baseball-loving countries – and players who have experienced the tournament – cannot get enough. Some players involved even said they'd rather win the WBC than the World Series.

Capped by Venezuela's first WBC title at an electric loanDepot park in Miami this week, the WBC's attendance hit a record 1.62 million over 47 games, a 23% increase from the 2023 totals. Perhaps even more impressive is WBC attendance is up 73% compared to the 2017 event.

Record television ratings were set for the event this March, too. The U.S.-Dominican Republic semifinal ratings surpassed that of some recent NBA Finals games with 7.4 million viewers – this despite being up against the Academy Awards on Sunday night. And in the finals, that number was topped, as the U.S.-Venezuela game earned a monster 10.8 million audience. TV ratings have more than doubled the 2017 final between the US and Puerto Rico (3.1 million).

But as enjoyable and engaging as the 2026 event was, there is a way to elevate the WBC to an even greater level. After all, the event is still in its youth. It is not yet optimized. There is a way to make it even more popular without changing the number of teams, games played or time required to hold it, or moving it on the calendar.

There's an adjustment that can be made within the existing constraints and framework that would place more interest and more eyeballs upon the inventory of 47 WBC games. Allow me to introduce a format that could supercharge it:

The Opening Round Sprint
Format: Hybrid double-elimination (32 total games)

The goal here is to keep the 20-team inclusive spirit of the WBC but introduce a double-elimination component in the first stage of play.

Why do this? In WBC pool play, there are games – including three this spring --between teams that are mathematically eliminated. There were another three games involving one team that had been eliminated versus one still in contention. That's nearly 13% of the tournament spent on games with little or no stakes. (Eliminating complicated tiebreakers would also be welcomed.)

A hybrid solution solves this. Every game played by every team means something.

With 20 teams, there are four five-team regions, just like in the existing format. But in a hybrid system, there's a play-in game between the two lowest-ranked teams to then seed a four-team bracket with winner's and loser's bracket paths.

The first three teams to accumulate two losses are eliminated. The remaining teams advance. Again, every game played means something. The idea is to eliminate "dead rubber'" games.

We are left with eight teams, and the next round becomes must-see baseball.

The WBC Super Regionals
Format: Best-of-three series (~10 total games)

With eight teams remaining after the opening sprint, we pivot to four best-of-three series. For a comparison, it would be something like the wildly popular Super Regionals in Division I college baseball.

This is where the TV ratings spike. This would create short series with compelling narratives that would develop over 48-72 hours, creating more attention and interest.

Consider what sustained play and coverage between two nations like Japan and Korea would mean for stoking interest. Or, for that matter, with the United States facing the Dominican Republic. A Game 1 pitching matchup between Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez would be must-watch TV, but the decisions about whom to pitch next, and the depth available, become compelling storylines later in the series, too.

One or two hot pitching hands alone couldn't determine advancement. There would still be variance with a best-of-three series, but, on average, the more talented teams would advance.

These series could be played at the four previous sites, or allow four other locations to host. Cities like Toronto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Arlington (Texas) and soon Las Vegas, are equipped to host games any time of year in MLB stadiums.

Interest would heighten in this round, and narratives would build to a crescendo that is a final round.

The Final Four
Format: Double-elimination (6-7 total games)

In this concept, the final four teams enter a double-elimination bracket at a single location. It would be akin to an NCAA Regional meeting a men's basketball Final Four. The fan bases of four different countries in one city, in one venue, for a weekend-plus, would create incredible energy.

The venue, whether Miami’s loanDepot park – which has been an excellent host – or elsewhere, would be electric.

Let's use this year's semifinals as an example. A Friday doubleheader would have featured Italy versus Venezuela as an opening act, followed by the United States versus the Dominican Republic as the main event.

A controversial called-strike call against Geraldo Perdomo on Friday night doesn't end the Dominican Republic's run; rather, they get to fight another day, Saturday, in the loser's bracket versus Italy.

After Venezuela tops the United States on Saturday, a do-or-die elimination game is set up Sunday, a rematch between the U.S. and Dominican Republic. Such a game might push beyond eight million viewers. The winner advances to try and beat the Venezuelan team twice for WBC glory.

The finals, played over four days or five days, sustains narrative and interest while testing depth and decision making.

***

Just like this year's excellent WBC, there are about four dozen games in total. Only in this format, every game means something, and a greater share of games are pushed to higher-leverage rounds.

This format improves the chances that the best two teams in the tournament meet at least once. More games are also pushed to more leverage spots in the tournament.

There are 40 pool play games in the current WBC format, and seven games in bracket play. But in this concept, there are fewer games in the opening round (32), and at least double the number (14-plus) in the high-leverage second and third rounds.

The WBC is great. It's growing exponentially as the baseball world embraces it. But this idea would take greater advantage of the tight window in which the tournament likely must be played.

More engagement and more interest unlocks greater growth – especially internationally. The tournament touches five continents. Think about what that can mean over time for baseball. More attention and more interest could spark more growth in places like Australia and Europe, as well as consolidating the incredible interest and growth in East Asia and Latin America.

The WBC is one of baseball's most important tools. As great as this year's event was, there is a way to take it to an even greater level.