World Baseball Classic explainer: Everything you need to know about the 2026 tournament
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) runs from March 4 to March 17, featuring 20 teams divided into four pools, with games held in San Juan, Houston, Tokyo, and Miami.
- The tournament format includes pool play where each team plays four games, followed by single-elimination quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final; pitch limits and a pitch clock are new rules for this edition.
- Top players like Shohei Ohtani (Japan) and Cy Young winners from the U.S. will participate, with many teams featuring star-studded lineups and notable prospects.
- Broadcast coverage in the U.S. is across FOX networks and apps, with international broadcasts on local partners and Netflix for
