The 2026 World Baseball Classic is live. Pool play has begun with the sport's best players making statements, and the early results are exactly what baseball fans hoped for: dominant performances and surprises.
Team USA beat Brazil 15-5 in their opening game, showcasing the star-studded roster that's been built for this moment. A dream team months in the making finally gathered together for the first time just four days before their Classic opener, and they wasted no time proving why they're among the tournament favorites. Brazil walked 17 batters during the game, including five in the ninth inning alone, which certainly made things easier for the Americans. The USA's full tournament schedule kicks off with more Pool play action in the coming days.
Defending champion Japan is showing no signs of slowing down. Samurai Japan began its World Baseball Classic title defense against Chinese Taipei with a 13-0 win led by Shohei Ohtani. Japan set the record for most runs in a single inning in World Baseball Classic history, breaking the previous nine-run mark. It's an impressive statement from a team that won the 2023 championship and clearly wants to prove it wasn't a fluke.
The tournament features 20 teams split into four pools across Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami, with 47 games total leading to a final on March 17 in Miami. With Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, and an absolutely loaded USA roster taking the field alongside Japan's Shohei Ohtani and other international stars, this year's World Baseball Classic has serious tournament-winning talent everywhere you look. The competition is heating up early—stay locked in.