The World Baseball Classic (WBC), led by Major League Baseball (MLB), differs significantly from the Premier12, which determines participation based on world rankings. The key distinction is that the WBC allows players from MLB’s 40-man rosters to compete, making it the most prestigious international tournament in professional baseball.
The upcoming edition of the World Baseball Classic will take place from March 5 to March 17, 2026, with games hosted in Houston and Miami (USA), Tokyo (Japan), and San Juan (Puerto Rico). A total of 20 teams will participate, including the top 16 teams from the previous WBC and four additional teams that qualify through the tournament’s qualification rounds.
Venues
| Round | 2026 Locations |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Taipei, Tucson |
| Pool stage | Tokyo, San Juan, Miami, Houston |
| Knockout stage | Houston, Miami |
| Championship | Miami |
Qualification Schedule
Taipei Dome (also known as Farglory Dome) opened in 2023 and will host the World Baseball Classic 2025 Qualifiers, Feb. 21-25, 2025. The teams featured in the Taipei pool are Chinese Taipei, Nicaragua, South Africa and Spain. The two teams with the best records will advance to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
| Game | Date & Time | Team | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | February 21 (Fri) 12:00 | South Africa | Nicaragua |
| Game 2 | February 21 (Fri) 19:00 | Spain | Chinese Taipei |
| Game 3 | February 22 (Sat) 12:00 | Spain | Nicaragua |
| Game 4 | February 22 (Sat) 19:00 | Chinese Taipei | South Africa |
| Game 5 | February 23 (Sun) 12:00 | South Africa | Spain |
| Game 6 | February 23 (Sun) 19:00 | Nicaragua | Chinese Taipei |
| Game 7 | February 25 (Tue) 19:00 | 3rd place team | 2nd place team |
(Taipei Standard Time)
The first-place team and the winner of Game 7 will advance to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Veterans Memorial Stadium at Kino Sports Complex will host the World Baseball Classic 2025 Qualifiers, March 2-6, 2025. With a capacity of 11,000, Veterans Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium with natural grass. The teams featured in the Tucson pool are Brazil, China, Colombia and Germany. The two teams with the best records will advance to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
| Game | Date & Time | Team | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | March 2 (Sun) 11:00 | China | Germany |
| Game 2 | March 2 (Sun) 18:00 | Brazil | Colombia |
| Game 3 | March 3 (Sun) 11:00 | Brazil | Germany |
| Game 4 | March 3 (Sun) 18:00 | Colombia | China |
| Game 5 | March 4 (Sun) 11:00 | China | Brazil |
| Game 6 | March 4 (Sun) 18:00 | Germany | Colombia |
| Game 7 | March 6 (Sun) 18:00 | 3rd place team | 2nd place team |
(Mountain Standard Time)
The first-place team and the winner of Game 7 will advance to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
