HOUSTON – Team USA has lived to see another day. And a date with its neighbor to the north for a rematch of the Olympic gold medal men’s and women’s hockey games with a chance for Canada to get some revenge.
Much is at stake when Canada and the U.S. match wits (and Witt/Whitts, as in American shortstop Bobby Jr. and Canada skipper Ernie) in quarterfinal play Friday night at Daikin Park.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Quarterfinals presented by Capital One
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The first Canadian club to reach the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic will try to knock off a resplendent-but-relieved American squad that came dangerously close to mathematical elimination from a tournament many predicted it to win.
Team USA was accused of going through the motions in its most recent appearance on the field in Tuesday’s stunning loss to Italy, but now the Americans will be rested and, one would assume, motivated to squash that particular storyline and keep one of the greatest baseball rosters ever assembled operational.
As for the Canadians, they’ve already achieved the most wins in their country’s history in the Classic – a breakthrough that, on the heels of the Toronto Blue Jays’ thrilling AL pennant run last fall, adds to the baseball boom in the Great White North.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When and where: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Daikin Park
How you can watch: The game will air on FOX.
How you can listen: There will be an English-language audio stream available for every game on Sirius XM, and free on MLB.com.
Team results: Both of these clubs went 3-1 in pool play.
Team USA cruised past Brazil, 15-5, and Great Britain, 9-1, before an emotional 5-3 win over Mexico and a demoralizing 8-6 upset at the hands of Pool B winner Italy. In a loaded lineup, the stalwart so far has actually been Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has ripped two homers and a double despite logging only 10 at-bats.
Canada opened with an 8-2 win over Colombia before stumbling in an upset 4-3 loss to Panama but ultimately righted itself by beating Puerto Rico, 3-2, and Cuba, 7-2. Outfielder Owen Caissie and infielder Abraham Toro have both been on a tear, with a homer and three doubles apiece, with Toro adding a triple.
Probable starting pitchers: RHP Logan Webb (USA) vs. RHP Michael Soroka (Canada)
What’s at stake: The winner of this game will move on to Miami’s loanDepot park, where it will face the winner of Korea vs. the Dominican Republic on Sunday night at 8 ET (FS1). Though Canada has never reached the semis, Team USA is trying to get there for the fourth time overall (also 2009, 2017 and 2023) and the second in as many Classics.
Matchup history: Though it did not advance, Canada beat the U.S. the first time the two teams met in pool play in the first Classic in 2006. Since then, it’s been all Team USA against Canada in pool play, with a 6-5 win in 2009, 9-4 in 2013, 8-0 in 2017 and 12-1 in 2023.