The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) party will have 20 guests and the four groups where they are located and the game schedule were revealed this Wednesday.
The venues for this event were previously announced, with action taking place at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan; Minute Maid Park in Houston; and loanDepot Park in Miami, which is hosting the competition for the fifth time and has always had an excellent attendance.
Little Havana Park will be involved in every step of the month-long tournament, which begins in early March and concludes with the title game at South Florida Stadium.
In Group A on Puerto Rican soil, the hosts, Cuba, Canada, Panama and one of the four teams that obtain a ticket in the qualifying tournaments to be held in 2025 will play from March 6 to 11.
In Group B in Houston, also on the same date, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, the United States and another team that makes it through will face each other.
In Group C in the Japanese capital, from March 5 to 10, the local ninth will face the current champion of the World Classic, Australia, the Czech Republic, South Korea and one of the last-minute qualifiers.
In Key D in Miami, from March 6 to 11, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel and another team to be determined will compete.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will take place in Houston (Groups A and B) and Miami (Groups C and D) on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14.
2026 World Baseball Classic Groups.
The semifinals (March 15 and 16) and the championship game (March 17) will be played at the Marlins’ home in Little Havana.
LoanDepot Park has been the only stadium to host all rounds of a World Classic and the 2023 edition broke spectator records and was a sporting and commercial success.
Echoes of matches such as those between the Venezuelan and United States teams in the quarter-finals or Mexico against Japan in the semi-finals are still remembered.
The icing on the cake came when Shohei Otahni ponchoed Mike Trout for the final out of the crown game that gave the Asian team its third title in the five editions held so far (2006, 2009, 2023).
The Dominican Republic (2013) and the United States (2017) have the other two scrolls.
As part of the benefits of Marlins membership, 2024 season ticket holders who maintain their status through 2026 will receive first access and the best price on World Baseball Classic tickets.
FISH members enjoy first priority for WBC 2026 ticket and package pre-orders, as well as early bird pricing.
Fans can become members today at: Marlins.com/Membership.
Ticket sales for the general public will be announced at a later date and fans can register now at worldbaseballclassic.com/tickets to receive the most up-to-date information.