The 2026 World Baseball Classic delivered one of its marquee games on Monday when the United States took on rival Mexico. Both teams entered the day 2-0 in Pool B. It was a tighter contest than might’ve been expected, but the Americans got it done with a 5-3 victory to advance to 3-0 in the tournament. They face Italy on Tuesday to conclude their Pool B slate.
In the first WBC game on Monday, South Korea beat Australia 7-2 to reach the quarterfinals from Pool C. That gave South Korea a 2-2 record in pool play, identical to Australia and Chinese Taipei — but South Korea’s seventh run against the Aussies swung the run-quotient tiebreaker in its favor. Also in Pool C, Shohei Ohtani and Japan secured a berth in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory over Australia on Sunday.
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This year marks the sixth iteration of the international baseball tournament, with Japan the reigning champion after defeating Team USA 3-2 in the 2023 final.
The Americans have taken home one WBC title, back in 2017, and they’re looking for a second with a loaded roster that includes 22 MLB All-Stars — the most of any roster in the tournament. Among those who will represent Team USA are Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge, just to name a few of the stars, with the U.S. entering the tournament as the favorite (-105) over Japan (+350) at BetMGM.
During pool play, games are being played in Tokyo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Miami and Houston. The pool stage runs through Wednesday, followed by the quarterfinals (March 13 and 14) and semifinals (March 15 and 16). It all culminates with the WBC final on March 17 at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Games will air across Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes, with streaming for all games available with a Fox One subscription.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news and updates from the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Live197 updates
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 5:42 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
Well, Team Japan’s offense is out in full force now. After a three-run homer by Ukyo Shuto broke things open, Japan decided to keep piling on.
With the bases loaded, Munetaka Murakami smacked a grand slam to put Japan up 9-0.
It was a dominant inning, one that solidifies Japan as one of the most dangerous teams in the event.
Prior to the eighth, both teams were locked in a scoreless affair. But after coming close to scoring a number of times earlier in the contest, Japan finally broke through in a big way in the eighth.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 5:25 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
It took them a while but Team Japan finally found their stride against Czechia. Japan exploded for a big inning in the eight, punctuated by a three-run homer from Ukyo Shuto.
The hit came after Japan finally scratched a run across the plate in the frame. That made it 1-0 … before Shuto’s home run added three runs to the board.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 5:18 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
After being stopped all game, it was only a matter of time before Team Japan got a clutch hit.
That came in the eighth inning, as Kenya Wakatsuki doubled with a man on first to put Japan on the board.
The hit put Team Japan up 1-0 in the eighth inning. Prior to the score, both team had been held scoreless, though Japan had multiple instances in which they threatened to score, but failed to get the one hit the team needed.
All that changed in the eighth, and could wind up giving Japan the win.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 5:04 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
With Team Japan threatening again in the bottom of the seventh, Czechia worked out of yet another jam.
With a man on third and one out, Czechia’s pitching again held Japan off the board. Japan has threatened a few times on the basepaths, but Czechia has worked out of jams each time.
In this instance, it took a strikeout and flyout to get out of the frame.
Both teams still remain scoreless heading into the eighth inning.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 4:53 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
There hasn’t been much offense in the World Baseball Classic early Tuesday. Both Czechia and Team Japan remain scoreless as the bottom of the seventh inning gets underway.
Czechia pitcher Ondrej Satoria did an excellent job keeping Team Japan off the board for 4 2/3 innings and his teammates have followed suit.
Over on Japan’s side, Hiroto Takahashi kept Czechia off the board for 4 2/3 innings as well.
Czechia only has two hits so far, so the team will need to produce more on offense if it wants to scratch a run across the plate.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 4:30 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
Through 4 2/3 innings, Ondrej Satoria kept Team Japan off the board. But with two outs and a man on second in the fifth, Satoria was removed from the contest.
It turned out to be a pretty fantastic move, as it allowed the fans to show their apprecitation for Satoria after an excellent start.
Czechia managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run, keeping the game tied 0-0.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 4:13 AM PDT
Chris Cwik
Team Japan threatened to break the game open in a big way in the fourth inning, but Czechia pitcher Ondrej Satoria held them off.
With men on second and third and one out, Satoria induced a weakly-hit ball back to him, nailing a runner at home plate. He got the next batter to ground out, ending the inning without allowing a run.
Both teams are tied at 0-0 heading into the top of the fifth.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 3:52 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Czechia and Japan have yet to score through three innings in Tuesday’s opening game.
With nothing on the line for the final game of Pool C at Tokyo Dome, the two teams have combined for seven strikeouts in the early going.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 3:43 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Five of the eight quarterfinal berths have already been decided entering Tuesday:
Puerto Rico (Pool A)
Japan (Pool C)
South Korea (Pool C)
Venezuela (Pool D)
Dominican Republic (Pool D)
The final Pool A spot will go to either Cuba (2-1) or Canada (1-1) while the two Pool C berths will be decided between the U.S. (3-0), Italy (2-0) and Mexico (2-1).
The U.S. can qualify for the quarters with a victory over Italy on Tuesday.
Tue, March 10, 2026 at 3:29 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
With Japan having already clinched a spot in the WBC quarterfinals, Shohei Ohtani is not in the starting lineup for the final pool play game against Czechia.
Czechia is looking for its first win in its fourth and final game of the WBC while Japan is 3-0.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM PDT
It was closer than the Americans would’ve liked in the final few innings, but Team USA got it done, moving to 3-0 with a win over Mexico.
Paul Skenes delivered four stellar innings, the bats produced a five-run inning, and Garrett Whitlock notched the save.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico finished off a 4-1 victory over Cuba to also move to 3-0 in the tournament.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM PDT
Joey Meneses singles to right field, and Mexico has the tying run at the plate again.
Garrett Whitlock strikes out Alejandro Osuna and Julian Ornelas, and Mexico is down to its final out.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 7:47 PM PDT
Matthew Boyd hits Randy Arozarena with a pitch, and that brings Jonathan Aranda to the plate as the tying run in this contest. There are no outs in the top of the eighth.
Boyd then struck out Aranda for the first out, and Griffin Jax came in and induced a double play to end the inning.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM PDT
Mexico has cut into its deficit, largely thanks to two solo homers from Duran.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 7:02 PM PDT
It’s now 5-1 in Houston after a solo blast from Duran.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 6:44 PM PDT
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 6:26 PM PDT
The reigning NL Cy Young winner appears to be in top form in his first WBC outing.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM PDT
Team USA’s starting shortstop makes an amazing, diving grab and throw across the diamond to get Alejandro Kirk for the second out of the fourth inning.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 6:11 PM PDT
The youngest member of Team USA makes his mark and shows off his power with a three-run blast that puts the Americans up 5-0.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM PDT
Martin Maldonado clears the bases with a double to put P.R. ahead 3-0 in the second inning.