Pool play wrapped up Wednesday at the 2026 World Baseball Classic with three high-stakes games, setting the stage for an action-packed quarterfinal round.
Team USA qualified for the quarterfinals courtesy of Italy's 9-1 win over Mexico, which earned Italy the top spot in Pool B. Canada advanced out of pool play for the first time in Classic history with a 7-2 victory over Cuba to clinch the top spot in Pool A. And the Dominican Republic claimed first place in Pool D with a thrilling 7-5 win over Venezuela.
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In Pool C action, Samurai Japan clinched the top spot with a narrow victory over Australia on Sunday. Meanwhile, Korea secured the second seed in that pool with its 7-2 win over the Aussies on Monday, earning the spot via tiebreaker over Chinese Taipei and Australia, while Puerto Rico secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Cuba.
Here’s a rundown of which teams advanced and which were eliminated during pool play.
Pool A
ADVANCED
Canada: Clinched the top seed in Pool A with a 3-1 record and a head-to-head victory over Puerto Rico. Will face Team USA in the quarterfinals (8 p.m. ET on Friday, FOX).
Puerto Rico: Clinched the second seed in the pool following Canada's 7-2 win over Cuba on Wednesday. Finished 3-1 in pool play. Will play Italy in the quarterfinals (3 p.m. ET on Saturday, FS1).
ELIMINATED
Cuba: Finished 2-2 in pool play.
Colombia: Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Panama: Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Pool B
ADVANCED
Italy: Finished pool play at 4-0 after Wednesday's 9-1 win over Mexico, earning the top spot in Pool B. Will take on Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals (3 p.m. ET on Saturday, FS1).
USA: Finished 3-1 in pool play, good for second place in Pool B. Will take on Canada in the quarterfinals (8 p.m. ET on Friday, FOX).
ELIMINATED
Mexico: Finished 2-2 in pool play after a 9-1 loss to Italy on Wednesday.
Great Britain: Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Brazil: Finished 0-4 in pool play.
Pool C
ADVANCED
Japan: Clinched the top seed with 4-0 record during pool play. Will take on Venezuela in the quarterfinals (9 p.m. ET on Saturday, FOX).
Korea: Clinched the second seed in the pool via tiebreaker over Chinese Taipei and Australia, with all three teams finishing 2-2. Will face the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals (6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, FS2).
ELIMINATED
Australia: Finished pool play with a 2-2 record, losing the tiebreaker to Korea.
Chinese Taipei: Finished pool play with a 2-2 record, losing the tiebreaker to Korea.
Czechia: Finished 0-4 in pool play.
Pool D
ADVANCED
Dominican Republic: Secured a 4-0 record and the top seed in Pool D with Wednesday's win over Venezuela. Will face Korea in the quarterfinals (6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, FS2).
Venezuela: Finished second in Pool D at 3-1 with Wednesday's loss to the Dominican Republic. Will take on Japan in the quarterfinals (9 p.m. ET on Saturday, FOX).
ELIMINATED
Israel: Eliminated with Monday's loss to the Dominican Republic; finished 2-2 in pool play.
Netherlands: Also eliminated with Israel's loss to the Dominican Republic on Monday; finished 1-3 in pool play.
Nicaragua: Finished 0-4 in pool play.