WBC 2026 Is Officially Underway: Day 1 Results, Full Schedule, and Team USA Preview
The 2026 World Baseball Classic has arrived. Pool C kicked things off overnight at the Tokyo Dome, and the full tournament is now rolling across four host cities through March 17. Here is everything you need to know — Day 1 results, the complete WBC schedule, and what is coming up for Team USA tonight.
WBC Day 1 Results: Chinese Taipei Upsets Australia, Korea Opens vs. Czechia
Chinese Taipei won the opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic 6-3 over Australia, behind 4 2/3 innings from Yu-Min Lin and a home run from captain Chieh-Hsien Chen. It was a statement performance from the defending Premier12 champions, who needed a qualifying tournament just to reach this field after a five-way tie in 2023.
South Korea followed in the early morning hours of March 5 ET, facing Czechia at 5:00 a.m. on FS1, with Czechia set to face Australia again at 10:00 p.m. Thursday night.
2026 WBC Pools and Teams at a Glance
The four pools are set in Tokyo (Pool C), San Juan, Puerto Rico (Pool A), Houston (Pool B), and Miami (Pool D). Pool C in Tokyo features Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Australia, and Czechia. Pool A in San Juan includes Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba, Panama, and Colombia. Pool B in Houston is where Team USA plays alongside Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, and Mexico. Pool D in Miami includes the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel, and Nicaragua.
WBC Schedule Today and Tomorrow: Team USA Opens Friday
Today and tonight's remaining WBC schedule (all times ET):
| Time (ET) | Game | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 PM Thu | Czechia vs. Australia | FS1 |
| 5:00 AM Fri | Chinese Taipei vs. Japan | FS1 |
| 11:00 AM Fri | Panama vs. Cuba | FS2 |
| Noon Fri | Venezuela vs. Netherlands | Tubi |
| 1:00 PM Fri | Great Britain vs. Mexico | FS1 |
| 6:00 PM Fri | Colombia vs. Puerto Rico | FS1 |
| 7:00 PM Fri | Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua | FS2 |
| 8:00 PM Fri | Brazil vs. USA | Fox |
| 10:00 PM Fri | Czechia vs. Chinese Taipei | FS2 |
Team USA opens WBC pool play Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston.
Team USA Enters as the Clear Favorite
Team USA is led by captain Aaron Judge and features both 2025 Cy Young Award winners — Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes — along with stars including Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, and Clayton Kershaw.
Team USA crushed the Colorado Rockies 14-4 in its final exhibition tune-up Wednesday, a day after rolling the San Francisco Giants 15-1. Aaron Judge homered in the first inning of both games.
Bobby Witt Jr. summed up the team's mindset heading into the WBC tournament simply: "Pressure is a privilege. It's an honor to have that."
Japan: The Team to Beat Again
Japan is led by 2025 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani and reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi and Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Japan has finished first or third in every World Baseball Classic to date and is widely regarded as the tournament favorite heading into 2026. The USA defeated Japan in a memorable 2023 final in Miami — then lost on a walk-off strikeout by Ohtani against Mike Trout that became one of the most iconic moments in baseball history.
How to Watch the WBC Schedule 2026
All 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic are broadcast on the Fox networks — Fox, FS1, and FS2 — and can be streamed live on Fubo, with select games also available on Tubi and the Fox app. Fox One will stream every single game in the tournament. The championship game goes live from loanDepot Park in Miami on March 17.
