Houston, Miami among sites for 2026 World Baseball Classic

LONDON (Agencies): Houston, Miami, Tokyo and San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be the host sites for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday. The 20-team competition will run from March 5-17, 2026, with 2023 winner Japan as the defending champion. The 16 teams that finished in the top four of their respective pools in 2023 will be invited, along with four teams advancing from qualifiers in 2025. First-round games in Pool A will take place in San Juan, with host Puerto Rico joined by Canada, Cuba, Panama and a qualifier. Pool B will be held in Houston, featuring teams from the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico and a qualifier. Pool C will be in Tokyo, where three-time champion Japan will be joined by Australia, Czechia, South Korea and a qualifier. Pool D will take place in Miami with teams from the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands, Venezuela and a qualifier.  Quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami. The semifinals and final will be played in Miami.