A practical FAQ for planning your WBC 2026 viewing and travel. All rule / broadcast notes below are sourced from MLB.
When does the 2026 World Baseball Classic begin?
The tournament begins March 5 in Tokyo (March 4 late evening in ET for the U.S.). Pools A/B/D begin March 6.
How long does the tournament run?
It runs through March 17, with the Championship Game in Miami.
How many teams and pools are there?
20 teams are split into four pools of five teams each.
How does pool play work?
Each pool is a round-robin. The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
Where are the venues?
Tokyo Dome (Tokyo), Hiram Bithorn Stadium (San Juan), Daikin Park (Houston), and loanDepot park (Miami).
Where are the quarterfinals played?
Quarterfinals are played in Miami (loanDepot park) and Houston (Daikin Park) on March 13–14.
Where are the semifinals and final played?
Semifinals and the Championship Game are in Miami at loanDepot park (March 15–17).
How can I watch in the U.S.?
FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and Tubi will carry all 47 games. All games are available on FOX One.
How can I watch in Japan?
Netflix Japan will stream all tournament games in Japanese.
Is there an English audio option in Japan?
MLB notes a free English-language audio stream is available for every game.
Will the 2026 WBC use a pitch clock?
Yes. MLB states the WBC will use a pitch clock following Major League rules.
Will ABS (Automatic Ball-Strike System) be used?
No. MLB states ABS will not be used at the 2026 WBC.
What are the pitch count limits?
MLB states: 65 pitches (First Round), 80 (Quarterfinal), 95 (Championship Round), with an allowance to finish a batter.
Are there mercy rules?
Yes. MLB states games can end if a team leads by 10+ after the 7th inning or 15+ after the 5th inning (First Round & Quarterfinals).
How do tiebreakers work?
MLB lists: head-to-head, then runs allowed per defensive out, then earned runs per defensive out, then highest batting average, then drawing of lots.
How do teams qualify for the next WBC?
MLB states the top four teams in each pool (top 16 overall) automatically qualify; last-place teams must re-qualify.
Where can I buy tickets?
MLB directs fans to World Baseball Classic tickets pages for single-game tickets.
Where can I find official schedule resources?
MLB provides a full U.S. broadcast schedule PDF and ongoing updates via MLB.com.
Why are times shown as Local + ET?
Local time helps with venue planning; ET aligns with U.S. broadcast scheduling. Pool C ET times occur the previous day.
What is Predict0 /predictions?
It is the site’s prediction hub where you can run match simulations and explore scenarios.
Sources: MLB tournament overview and how-to-watch pages.
