World Baseball Classic set to begin. What to know, odds, schedules

[ASFN Admin]

The sixth World Baseball Classic will truly be a world affair, as venues in Japan, Puerto Rico, Houston and Miami are set to host 20 teams from across the globe competing for the championship.

Japan comes in as the defending champion after winning the 2023 version, though the United States, with starts like Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, is the betting favorite.

More: World Baseball Classic: When was the first tournament?

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The tournament begins a two-week run Thursday (Wednesday night in Tokyo) and concludes with the championship on March 17, which will be televised on FOX.

When is the World Baseball Classic?​

The 2026 World Baseball Classic starts on Thursday, March 5 and runs until Tuesday, March 17.

Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic?​

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place across four cities: Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston; and Miami. The first-round pools will take place in each city, while the quarterfinals will be split between Houston and Miami. The semifinals and finals will all be held at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

More: World Baseball Classic jerseys: Ranking the threads at the 2026 WBC

Where to watch the World Baseball Classic​

The World Baseball Classic will air in the United States on FOX, FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App, FOX One and Tubi.

Fox: Will broadcast seven high-profile games, including Team USA's opener, two quarterfinals (March 13, 14), and the Championship on March 17 at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT.

FS1 and FS2: Will air 19 or more games, including semifinals.

Tubi: Will stream select pool play games.

Team USA schedule​

• Friday, March 6: USA vs. Brazil, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, FOX

• Saturday, March 7 USA vs. Great Britain, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

• Monday, March 9: USA vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

• Tuesday, March 10: USA vs. Italy, 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT

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Team USA Roster​

• Catchers: Cal Raleigh (Mariners), Will Smith (Dodgers)
• First Base: Bryce Harper (Phillies), Paul Goldschmidt (free agent0
• Second Base: Brice Turang (Brewers)
• Third Base: Alex Bregman (Cubs), Gunnar Henderson (Orioles)
• Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Ernie Clement (Blue Jays)
• Outfield: Aaron Judge (Yankees), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Byron Buxton (Twins)
• Designated Hitter: Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
• Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal (Tigers), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Logan Webb (Giants), Clayton Kershaw (free agent), Joe Ryan (Twins), Michael Wacha (Royals), Matthew Boyd (Cubs), Nolan McLean (Mets)
• Relief Pitchers: Mason Miller (Padres), Griffin Jax (Rays), Clay Holmes (Mets), Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox), Garrett Cleavinger (Rays), David Bednar (Yankees), Gabe Speier (Mariners), Brad Keller (Phillies)

Team Mexico schedule​

Friday, March 6 - Mexico vs. Great Britain, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT

Sunday, March 8 - Brazil vs. Mexico at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Wednesday, March 11 - Italy vs. Mexico at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Team Mexico roster​

• Pitchers: Taijuan Walker (Phillies), José Urquidy, Andrés Muñoz (Mariners), Javier Assad, Victor Vodnik (Rockies), Samuel Natera Jr. (Angels), Brennan Bernardino, Gerardo Reyes.

• Catchers: Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays), Alexis Wilson.

• Infielders: Jonathan Aranda (Devil Rays), Ramón Urías, Joey Ortiz (Brewers), Nick Gonzales (Pirates), Rowdy Tellez, Joey Meneses (A's), Luis Urías, Jared Serna (Marlines)

• Outfielders: Randy Arozarena (MAriners), Jarren Duran (Red Sox), Alek Thomas (Diamondbacks), Alejandro Osuna (Rangers), Julián Ornelas.

World Baseball Classic odds​

Team USA is the betting favorite to win the World Baseball Classic with odds of -110. Defending champion Japan (+330 to +350) and the Dominican Republic (+400 to +450) are the top contenders.

2026 World Baseball Classic Odds (via BetMGM)

• USA: -110
• Japan: +350
• Dominican Republic: +450
• Venezuela: +900
• Mexico: +2000
• Puerto Rico: +2500
• Canada: +6600
• Korea and Italy: +8000
• Netherlands/Cuba/Colombia: +10000

World Baseball Classic 2026 pools​

Here's each pool for the World Baseball Classic, with the venues for each group in parentheses:

Group A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)​

• Puerto Rico
• Cuba
• Canada
• Panama
• Colombia

Group B (Houston)​

• United States
• Mexico
• Italy
• Great Britain
• Brazil

Group C (Tokyo)​

• Japan
• Australia
• Korea
• Czechia
• Chinese Taipei

Group D (Miami)​

• Nicaragua
• Dominican Republic
• Venezuela
• Netherlands
• Israel

Full 2026 World Baseball Classic schedule​

Pool A schedule (San Juan, Puerto Rico)​

Friday, March 6 - Cuba vs. Panama, 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT

Friday, March 6 - Puerto Rico vs. Colombia, 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 - Colombia vs. Canada, 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 - Panama vs. Puerto Rico, 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT

Sunday, March 8 - Colombia vs. Cuba, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Sunday, March 8 - Panama vs. Canada, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Monday, March 9 - Colombia vs. Panama, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Monday, March 9 - Cuba vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Tuesday, March 10 - Canada vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Wednesday March 11 - Canada vs. Cuba, 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT

Pool B schedule (Houston)​

Friday, March 6 - Mexico vs. Great Britain, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT

Friday, March 6 - United States vs. Brazil, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, FOX

Saturday, March 7 - Brazil vs. Italy, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT

Saturday, March 7 - Great Britain vs. USA, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Sunday, March 8 - Great Britain vs. Italy, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT

Sunday, March 8 - Brazil vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Monday, March 9 - Brazil vs. Great Britain, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT

Monday, March 9 - Mexico vs. USA, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Tuesday, March 10 - Italy vs. USA, 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT

Wednesday, March 11 - Italy vs. Mexico, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Pool C schedule (Tokyo)​

Wednesday, March 4 - Chinese Taipei vs. Australia, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT

Thursday, March 5 - Czechia vs. Korea, 3 a.m. MT/4 a.m. CT

Thursday, March 5 - Australia vs. Czechia, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT

Friday, March 6 - Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 3 a.m. MT/4 a.m. CT

Friday, March 6 - Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 - Korea vs. Japan, 3 a.m. MT/4 a.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 - Chinese Taipei vs. Korea, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT

Sunday, March 8 - Australia vs. Japan, 4 a.m. MT/5 a.m. CT

Monday, March 9 - Korea vs. Australia, 4 a.m. MT/5 a.m. CT

Tuesday, March 10 - Czechia vs. Japan, 4 a.m. MT/5 a.m. CT

Pool D schedule (Miami)​

Friday, March 6 - Netherlands vs. Venezuela, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Friday, March 6 - Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 - Nicaragua vs. Netherlands, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Saturday, March 7 - Israel vs. Venezuela, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Sunday, March 8 - Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Sunday, March 8 - Nicaragua vs. Israel, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Monday, March 9 - Dominican Republic vs. Israel, 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT ET

Monday, March 9 - Venezuela vs. Nicaragua, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Tuesday, March 10 - Israel vs. Netherlands, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT

Wednesday, March 11 - Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Quarterfinals schedule​

Friday, March 13 - Quarterfinal 1, loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., 6:30 p.m. ET

Friday, March 13 - Quarterfinal 2, Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 14 - Quarterfinal 3, Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 14 - Quarterfinal 4, loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT

Championship round​

Sunday, March 15 - Semifinal 1 in Miami, Fla., 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, FS1 and FS2

Monday, March 16 - Semifinal 2 in Miami, Fla, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, FS1 and FS2

Tuesday, March 17 - Final in Miami,Fla., 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: World Baseball Classic: Teams USA, Mexico start play in tournament

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