Four teams have advanced out of pool play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, leaving four spots in the next round up for grabs.
Samurai Japan clinched the top spot in Pool C with a narrow victory over Australia on Sunday, while 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.
The Dominican Republic's 10-1 win over Israel on Monday afternoon not only clinched a quarterfinals berth for the Dominicans but Venezuela as well. Wednesday's matchup (8 p.m. ET, FS1) between the two will determine the Pool D winner, with the loser getting the second seed.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Pool B (Houston) & Pool D (Miami) presented by Capital One
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Which teams might join them in the quarterfinals? Here’s everything that you need to know about elimination scenarios and where each team stands as pool play continues at the WBC.
Pool A
ADVANCED
N/A
STILL ALIVE
Puerto Rico: Off to a 2-0 start in pool play, on the heels of a dramatic walk-off victory over Panama on Saturday. It can clinch a quarterfinals berth with a win Monday against Cuba (7 p.m. ET, FS1).
Cuba: Is 2-0 to begin pool play after its Sunday win over Colombia. It can clinch a quarterfinals berth with a win Monday against Puerto Rico (7 p.m. ET, FS1).
Canada: Is 1-1 in pool play, beating Colombia but losing to Panama. Next game is Tuesday against Puerto Rico (7 p.m. ET, Tubi).
ELIMINATED
Colombia: Eliminated after losing first three games of pool play. Defeated Panama on Monday to finish 1-3.
Panama: Eliminated with Monday's loss to Colombia. Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Pool B
ADVANCED
N/A
STILL ALIVE
USA: Considered to be the pool’s favorite, the Americans are off to a 2-0 start in the Classic with a pair of lopsided victories. Will try to improve to 3-0 against Mexico on Monday (8 p.m. ET, FOX).
Mexico: Is 2-0 to start pool play after a run-rule victory over Brazil on Sunday.
Italy: Is 2-0 to begin pool play after its victory over Great Britain on Sunday. Next game is against USA on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, FS1).
ELIMINATED
Great Britain: Finished 1-3 in pool play after Monday's 8-1 win over Brazil.
Brazil: Finished 0-4 in pool play.
Pool C
ADVANCED
Japan: Has clinched the top seed in the pool.
Korea: Has clinched the second seed in the pool via tiebreaker over Chinese Taipei and Australia, with all three teams finishing 2-2. Korea's win over Australia on Monday triggered the three-way tie.
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: Cannot advance to the next round after dropping its first three pool play games.
Pool D
ADVANCED
Dominican Republic: Clinched a quarterfinals berth with Monday's win over Israel. Can clinch the top seed in the pool with a win Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, FS1) against Venezuela.
Venezuela: Clinched a quarterfinals berth via the Dominican Republic's win over Israel on Monday afternoon. Can clinch the top seed in the pool with a win Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, FS1) against the Dominican Republic.
ELIMINATED
Israel: Eliminated with Monday's loss to the Dominican Republic.
Netherlands: Also eliminated with Israel's loss to the Dominican Republic on Monday, which ensured that neither Israel nor the Netherlands can finish higher than third.
Nicaragua: Cannot advance to the next round after dropping to 0-3 with Sunday's loss to Israel.