The 2026 World Baseball Classic is off to a roaring start, and this year’s installment of the tournament is already setting new viewership marks.
Friday night, Team USA’s opening game against Brazil on FOX averaged 2.64 million viewers. It was the most-watched sports event of the day on any network.
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One night later, an average of 2.98 million viewers watched Team USA defeat Great Britain, 9-1, making it the most-watched non-final World Baseball Classic telecast on any network ever; only the 2023 title game between the U.S. and Japan averaged more viewers. Viewership for USA vs. Great Britain was up 101% from their showdown in the 2023 Classic, which averaged 1.48 million viewers.
And there is plenty more excitement left to come at this year’s Classic. Five teams have already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, which will begin on Friday: Japan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Korea. The fate of five more teams -- USA, Italy, Mexico, Canada and Cuba -- hangs in the balance Wednesday on the final day of pool play, with only three spots remaining in the quarterfinals.