2026 World Baseball Classic
(Redirected from 2026 World Baseball Classic qualification)
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is an upcoming international professional baseball tournament, planned to be the sixth iteration of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).[1] The pool play rounds will be played in Miami, Florida; Houston, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo, Japan. The quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston, and the final round will be played in Miami.[2]
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Japan Puerto Rico United States |
| Dates | TBD |
| Teams | 20 |
Japan are the defending champions after they defeated the United States 3–2 in the 2023 championship game.[3]
Teams
editQualification
edit16 teams qualified for the 2026 tournament by being in the top four of their pool in the 2023 tournament. 4 other participants will be determined through the qualifying tournament.[4][5]
| Region | Team | Qualification method |
Prev. apps |
Previous best result | WBSC World Rankings[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Americas |  Canada
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C 3rd Place | 5 | Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023) | 16 |
 Cuba
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A Winner | 5 | Runners-up (2006) | 8 | |
 Dominican Republic
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D 3rd Place | 5 | Champions (2013) | 9 | |
 Mexico
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C Winner | 5 | Third place (2023) | 2 | |
 Panama
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A 4th Place | 3 | Pool stage (2006, 2009, 2023) | 10 | |
 Puerto Rico
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D Runner-Up | 5 | Runners-up (2013, 2017) | 12 | |
 United States
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C Runner-Up | 5 | Champions (2017) | 3 | |
 Venezuela
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D Winner | 5 | Fourth place (2009) | 6 | |
| Asia |  Japan
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B Winner | 5 | Champions (2006, 2009, 2023) | 1 |
 South Korea
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B 3rd Place | 5 | Runners-up (2009) | 4 | |
| Europe |  Czech Republic
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B 4th Place | 1 | Pool stage (2023) | 15 |
 Great Britain
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool C 4th Place | 1 | Pool stage (2023) | 18 | |
 Israel
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D 4th Place | 2 | Quarterfinals (2017) | 19 | |
 Italy
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A Runner-Up | 5 | Quarterfinals (2013, 2023) | 14 | |
 Netherlands
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A 3rd Place | 5 | Fourth place (2013, 2017) | 7 | |
| Oceania |  Australia
|
2023 World Baseball Classic Pool B Runner-Up | 5 | Quarterfinals (2023) | 11 |
Venues
editThe main tournament will be held in four stadiums.[7]
| Pool A | Pool B & Quarterfinals | Pool C | Pool D, Quarterfinals, Semis and Championship |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan, Puerto Rico
|
Houston, United States
|
Tokyo, Japan
|
Miami, United States
|
| Hiram Bithorn Stadium | Minute Maid Park | Tokyo Dome | LoanDepot Park |
| Capacity: 18,264 | Capacity: 41,168 | Capacity: 45,600 | Capacity: 36,742 |
|
|
|
|
References
edit- ^ "Classic will return in 2026, Commissioner confirms". MLB.com. March 21, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
- ^ Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 hosts
- ^ "Japan tops Team USA in dramatic finish to claim 3rd Classic title". MLB.com. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Clair, Michael (March 10, 2023). "No surprise here: Ohtani dominates on hill, at plate". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 hosts". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "WBSC Rankings - Men's baseball on 28/06/21". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami announced as World Baseball Classic 2026 host". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.