The USA begins play on Friday, March 6, vs. Brazil.
In 2023, the USA came down to its last batter in hopes of defeating Japan in the World Baseball Classic. But Shohei Ohtani struck out his Angels teammate Mike Trout, and Japan took the title. Starting March 6, Team USA has another chance to compete for the WBC title.
This time around, Team USA is loaded with top-notch MLB players, including a pitching staff that any MLB manager would love to have. This team has All-Stars and seasoned players with big-time experience.
There are 20 teams in this international baseball tournament, which occurs every four years (although the Covid pandemic interrupted that schedule). Each team is initially placed in one of four pools (A, B, C, D), each consisting of five teams. The United States is in Pool B.
Watch TEAM USA begin play on March 6.
The first four games for Team USA take place at Daikin Park in Houston, home of the Astros, in what’s called pool play. The opening game for the United States vs. Brazil on Friday, March 6, can be seen on FOX at 8 PM (all times listed are Eastern).
Team USA: Pool B Games
Friday, March 6, 8 PM, vs. Brazil
Saturday, March 7, 8 PM, vs. Great Britain
Monday, March 9, 8 PM, vs. Mexico
Tuesday, March 10, 9 PM, vs. Italy
How pool play works.
In the pool play round, the teams play each other just once (four games), and the top two teams with the best outcome in each pool advance to the next (semifinals) round. (In the 2023 WBC, Team USA ended pool play 3-1 and advanced to the next round.) Here are the four pools this year:
Pool A: All games in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, Canada, Colombia
Pool B: All games in Houston, Texas
United States, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, Brazil
Pool C: All games in Tokyo, Japan
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Czechia, Chinese Taipei
Pool D: All games in Miami, Florida
Venezuela, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua
After pool play, single elimination games.
The tournament moves fast after pool play, right into elimination games. It’s win or go home. A team must win its quarterfinal game and then its semifinal to reach the title Championship Game. The WBC semifinals and finals will be held March 15–17 at Miami’s loanDepot Park. The U.S. has won the WBC once, in 2017. Japan has three of the six tournaments, including their 3-2 win over Team USA in Miami in 2023.
Team USA 2026 staff and roster.
Mark DeRosa, a former MLB player (1998–2013), is back as Team USA manager after leading the squad to the Championship Game in 2023. “Building this team was done with purpose and pride,” DeRosa said. “These players know what it means to wear USA across their chest, and we’re ready to go to work and bring the World Baseball Classic trophy back home.”
His staff includes pitching coach Andy Pettitte, bench coach Skip Schumaker, hitting coaches Matt Holliday and Sean Casey, bullpen coach David Ross, base coaches Dino Ebel and George Lombard, and assistant managers Fredi González, Brian McCann, and Michael Young. The team brings impressive stats, according to USA Baseball.
· Achievements. As far as individual accolades, the team accounts for 22 All-Stars, 65 All-Star Game selections, and winners of 22 Silver Slugger Awards, 13 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, six Cy Young Awards, and five Rookie of the Year Awards.
· 2025’s best. Three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge captains the squad. 2025 Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes (National League) and Tarik Skubal (American League) lead the pitching staff.
· Four MVPs. Judge is a three-time AL MVP, while Bryce Harper is a two-time NL MVP award winner. They’re joined by MVPs Clayton Kershaw and Paul Goldschmidt.
Catchers
Cal Raleigh, Seattle; Will Smith, Dodgers
Infielders
Bryce Harper, Phillies; Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City; Gunnar Henderson, Orioles; Ernie Clement, Blue Jays; Alex Bregman, Red Sox; Paul Goldschmidt, Yankees; Brice Turang, Brewers
Outfielders
Aaron Judge (Captain), Yankees; Roman Anthony, Red Sox; Byron Buxton, Twins; Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
Designated Hitter
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Pitchers
Paul Skenes, Pirates; Tarik Skubal, Tigers; Logan Webb, Giants; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (retired); Mason Miller, Padres; David Bednar, Yankees; Clay Holmes, Mets; Joe Ryan, Twins; Matthew Boyd,
Cubs; Garret Cleavinger, Rays; Griffin Jax, Rays; Brad Keller, Phillies; Gabe Speier, Mariners; Michael Wacha, Royals; Garrett Whitlock, Red Sox; Nolan McLean, Mets; Ryan Yarbrough, Yankees
WBC games schedule and where to watch.
The FOX Sports Networks (FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes), the FOX Sports App, and Tubi will work together to broadcast 47 games in the U.S. According to MLB.com, all games will stream live and on demand on FOX One. Click here to see the proposed WBC schedule of broadcasts.
WBC Quarterfinals
March 13
6:30 PM: Quarterfinal 1, FS2
8 PM: Quarterfinal 2, FOX
March 14
3 PM: Quarterfinal 3, FS1
9 PM: Quarterfinal 4, FOX
WBC Semifinals
March 15
8 PM: Semifinal 1, FS1
March 16
8 PM: Semifinal 2, FS1
WBC Final: Championship Game
March 17
8 PM: FOX
Resources: mlb.com/news/usa-2026-world-baseball-classic-preview; usabaseball.com/news/team-usa-roster-for-2026-WBC; mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/2023-bracket-standings; usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/wbc/2026/02/27/usa-wbc-roster; mlb.com/news/how-to-watch-the-2026-world-baseball-classic; mlb.com/news/how-to-watch-the-2026-world-baseball-classic; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_World_Baseball_Classic
Image credt: Austin Passy