The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) will be hosted in four cities: San Juan, Houston, Tokyo, and Miami from March 5-17, 2026. The tournament will feature 20 teams, including 16 pre-qualified nations and four qualifiers determined in 2025. Defending champion Japan is in Pool C, while the United States is in Pool B and will play its first-round games at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The quarterfinals will be split between Houston and Miami, with the semifinals and championship game hosted in Miami. The WBC allows MLB players to participate without missing the regular season, elevating the competitive level. Japan has won the most titles with three championships, including the latest in 2023 where Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to secure the victory.