2026 World Baseball Classic Final Scheduled for March 17 at loanDepot Park

The championship final of the 2026 World Baseball Classic is set for Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.[1]

The tournament runs from March 5 to 17 and features 20 national teams competing in pool play across Miami, Houston, San Juan and Tokyo, followed by round-robin phases in Houston and San Juan, and semifinals leading to the final in Miami.[1]

Venezuela is seeking its first World Baseball Classic title. The team reached the semifinals in the 2009 edition but has not advanced further. Notable players include Kansas City Royals shortstop Maikel Garcia, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia and manager Omar Lopez.[2][7]

The United States placed second in the 2023 tournament, losing 3-2 to Japan in the final at loanDepot Park on March 21, 2023.[3]

FOX Sports holds U.S. broadcast rights through 2026. The 2023 WBC final on FS1 averaged 3.18 million viewers, with a peak of 4.85 million.[4]

Past WBC events have featured memorable moments, including Czech Republic pitcher Ondřej Sator receiving a standing ovation from Japanese fans at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2023,[5] and Italy's celebration of Pasquale Mazzoccoli's home run with an espresso machine during pool play.[6]