Major League Baseball (MLB) announced the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) pools and dates this Wednesday. As Taiwan’s team failed to advance to the top 16 during the last WBC, they will start from the qualifying round.
The 2026 WBC events will take place in the U.S., Japan, and Puerto Rico. Twenty teams will compete, 16 of the top contenders from the 2023 WBC, and four qualifying teams. The teams are divided into four pools.
Pool A includes Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and one top qualifier. The teams from each nation in this pool will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pool B includes the United States, Mexico, Italy, the United Kingdom, and one top qualifier. The teams from each nation in this pool will compete in Houston, Texas, United States.
Pool C includes Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Czechia, and one top qualifier. The teams from each nation in this pool will compete in Tokyo, Japan.
Pool D includes Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel, and one top qualifier. The teams from each nation in this pool will compete in Miami, Florida, United States.
Qualifying rounds are scheduled to take place in February and March of next year, with other details to be announced in the upcoming months.