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.
