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The 2026 World Baseball Classic now has its 20 qualified teams.
With the recent confirmation of the final teams, the lineup of participants has been completed for those seeking the title in this prestigious international competition.
The teams that will compete in the 2026 edition of the tournament are:
America: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Brazil.
Europe: Italy, Great Britain, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
Asia and Oceania: Japan, South Korea, Taipei, Israel, and Australia.
Tournament format and structure
The tournament will be divided into four groups of five teams.
Each team will face the other four teams in their group once, and the two best from each zone will advance to the quarterfinals.
In the next phase, the qualifiers will compete in a cross-format: the first place from one group will face the second place from another.
The winners will advance to the semifinals, and the champion will be determined in the grand final.
2026 World Baseball Classic Groups
In the absence of confirmation from the official groups, the initial distribution would be as follows:
Group A (San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Canada, and one qualified team.
Group B (Houston, USA): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and a qualifying team.
Group C (Miami, USA): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel, and one qualified team.
Group D (Tokyo, Japan): Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Australia, and a qualified team.
Brazil secured its ticket to the tournament after defeating Germany with a score of 6-4. With this victory, the Brazilian team returns to the World Baseball Classic after a twelve-year absence, joining Colombia, Nicaragua, and Chinese Taipei as the last teams to earn their spot.
The Brazilian team managed to prevail thanks to the performance of Leonardo Reginatto and the emerging talents Dante Bichette Jr. and Lucas Ramírez, son of former Dominican major leaguer Manny Ramírez.
The canarinha kept the German bats at bay and secured their qualification in a close match.
For its part, Colombia progressed smoothly in the qualifier held in Tucson, Arizona, solidifying its presence in the upcoming edition of the World Baseball Classic.
Key dates for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
The event will start on Thursday, March 5, 2026, and will culminate with the grand final on Tuesday, March 17.
During those 13 days, the tournament will bring together the best teams in the world in search of the title currently held by Japan.
The World Baseball Classic is the most prestigious international competition in the sport, where national teams seek to showcase their dominance and talent on the diamond.
In the coming months, the official groups will be defined, along with the game schedule and the final phase, while baseball fans eagerly await the start of the tournament that will crown the best team in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions about the 2026 World Baseball Classic
What teams have qualified for the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The teams qualified for the 2026 World Baseball Classic are: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Israel, and Australia. These teams will compete for the prestigious title in 2026.
What is the format of the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The tournament will be divided into four groups of five teams each. Each team will face the other four teams in their group once, and the top two from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, the first place from one group will face the second place from another group. The winners will advance to the semifinals, where the champion will be determined in the grand final.
When will the 2026 World Baseball Classic take place?
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place from Thursday, March 5 to Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Over these 13 days, the tournament will bring together the best teams from around the world in pursuit of baseball's most prestigious international title.
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