Five teams have advanced out of pool play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, leaving three 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. 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.
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.
Meanwhile, Canada made things extra interesting on Tuesday by pulling out a nail-biter 3-2 victory over Puerto Rico, setting up a win-or-go-home face-off against Cuba on Wednesday (3 p.m. ET, FS2) that will also determine Pool A's final seeding. A similar situation is unfolding in Pool B, where Italy out-slugged the USA in a 8-6 win on Tuesday to maintain their own perfect 3-0 record. Their final game against Mexico on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, Tubi) will determine which of the three remaining teams will advance to the quarterfinal round, with an interesting tiebreaker scenario in play -- a victory by Mexico would result in a three-way 3-1 tie atop the standings, putting the pool-favorite Team USA at risk of first-round elimination for the first time in tournament history.
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
Puerto Rico: Finished 3-1 in pool play. Would capture the top spot in Pool A with a Cuba win over Canada on Wednesday.
STILL ALIVE
Cuba: Is 2-1 after losing 4-1 against Puerto Rico on Monday. Would advance to the quarterfinals with a win over Canada on Wednesday (3 p.m. ET, FS2).
Canada: Is 2-1 in pool play after their 3-2 victory over Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Could secure the top spot in Pool A with a win over Cuba on Wednesday.
ELIMINATED
Colombia: Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Panama: Finished 1-3 in pool play.
Pool B
ADVANCED
N/A
STILL ALIVE
Italy: Is 3-0 to begin pool play after a big 8-6 victory over USA on Tuesday. Would clinch the top spot in Pool B with a win over Mexico on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, Tubi).
USA: Finished 3-1 in pool play after a 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday. Would clinch a quarterfinals berth with an Italy victory over Mexico on Wednesday; would be at risk of elimination via tiebreaker in the case of a Mexico victory.
Mexico: Is 2-1 to start pool play after a 5-3 loss against USA on Monday. A victory over Italy on Wednesday would force a three-way tiebreaker to settle Pool B.
ELIMINATED
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.
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: Finished 0-4 in pool play.
Pool D
ADVANCED
Dominican Republic: Clinched a quarterfinals berth with Monday's win over Israel. At 3-0, 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. At 3-0, 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; 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.