Major League Baseball has announced the sites for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with LoanDepot Park in Miami hosting the championship round. The group stage will be hosted by Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo. Houston and Miami will also host the quarterfinals, with Miami hosting the semifinals and championship game.
This will be the second consecutive time that the semifinals and championship will be played at LoanDepot Park. The 2023 tournament saw Japan defeat the United States 3-2 in a memorable final game with then-Los Angeles Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout facing off in the ninth inning.
Japan is the only city to have hosted at least one round of the World Baseball Classic since its inception in 2006, while Miami has been a staple in the rotation since 2009. The 2023 tournament featured a record 20 national teams, and the 2026 event will also have 20 clubs, with 16 spots already filled by the top four teams from 2023.
Qualifying countries include Japan, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, South Korea, Czech Republic, Great Britain
