KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After Kansas City topped the nation’s ratings markets for 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) pool play games, KC stands atop once again for the final round.
FOX Sports PR announced on Friday that Kansas City was the leading market for the WBC final at 9.28. Philadelphia (8.16) and Boston (6.74) followed behind, filling out the top three.
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The final was also the most-watched WBC game in history with 10,784,000 viewers in total. Viewership peaked at 12,148,000 on FOX.
That was good enough for a 128% increase from the 2023 WBC final between the US and Japan, and the most-watched Tuesday program since Game 4 of the 2025 World Series on FOX.
The game between Team USA and Team Venezuela featured four Kansas City Royals players: SS Bobby Witt Jr. for the US, and C Salvador Perez, 3B Maikel Garcia and RP Luinder Avila playing for Venezuela.
Four Royals players contributing to the final game undoubtedly helped Kansas City earn the top spot, but it also goes to show how much Kansas City is ready for another season of baseball.
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The Royals will begin the 2026 season on Friday, March 27 against the Atlanta Braves at 6:15 p.m.
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