The World Baseball Classic tournament is the golden stage where national teams compete to determine who is the best at baseball. The 2026 Classic is now entering the quarterfinals, and the stakes are getting higher.
Players from across the baseball world represent their nations in the Classic. The tournament features Major League Baseball (MLB) superstars, such as New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani. The Classic also features less prominent baseball players, such as 17-year-old high school pitcher Joseph Contreras, playing for the Brazil national baseball team. Contreras struck out Aaron Judge when Brazil played the United States.
The 20-team tournament began on March 4. The first week of the tournament featured Classic Pool Play, where teams from groups A, B, C, and D competed to be placed in the quarterfinals. Eight of the 20 original teams advanced from the pool to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play each other in knockout games to advance to the semifinals.
The winners of the semifinals play each other in the championship, where they compete for national pride and the prestigious thirty-pound Championship Trophy.
This year’s quarterfinal teams are: Korea, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy, Venezuela, and Japan. The national teams for Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Czechia, Panama, Colombia, Great Britain, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Australia, Nicaragua, the Netherlands, and Israel have been eliminated.
Cuba and Mexico missed the quarterfinals this year after making it all the way to the semifinals in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. On the other hand, quarterfinalist teams such as the Dominican Republic are returning to form after falling short of advancing back in 2023.
The United States narrowly reached the quarterfinals with a 3-1 record in the qualifying pool. Italy defeated the United States 8-6, which threatened their odds of advancing. It is difficult to make the quarterfinals after a loss, even after the United States defeated Brazil, Great Britain, and Mexico. The United States was eligible to advance after Italy beat Mexico, bumping America up the standings. The United States will face Canada at 8 pm on March 13.
Daniel Rhoe ‘28, a longtime fan of Team USA, is excited for the game.
“I feel like it’s gonna be a great matchup. I feel like tensions are going to be sparked, especially after the hockey Winter Olympics. Maybe there’s still going to be a little bit of bad blood,” Rhoe said.
The Classic provides the third opportunity for the United States to play Canada on the world stage in less than a month. The United States men’s and women’s hockey teams both defeated Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics to earn the gold medal. Rhoe points out that Canada may be looking for revenge.
Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants will be the starting pitcher for the United States. Michael Soroka of the Arizona Diamondbacks will start for Canada.
The game will be played in Houston, Texas. Rhoe mentions that Team USA will benefit from a strong home-field advantage.
“If it’s anything national, people are always going to be there supporting their country’s team… There’s patriotism and nationalism,” Rhoe said.
Puerto Rico is a national team with particularly passionate fans. Steven Mesaros ‘26 is a fan of Puerto Rico. Both of his grandparents on one side moved to the United States from Puerto Rico, and he avidly supports the team to connect with his roots.
Mesaros explains that there are many other Puerto Ricans with similar origins.
“They have a saying that goes: más que 100 x 35. This basically means that we’re more than just our island … We all have the same blood running through our veins. Just because we were born here doesn’t mean we can’t be proud, too,” Mesaros said.
Puerto Rico reaches much farther than the 3,515-square-mile island. The saying makes reference to the fact that there are about three million Puerto Ricans living on the island, but another six million Puerto Ricans living away from the island.
Many players on Puerto Rico’s team, such as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado and Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo, represent the six million Puerto Ricans who live away from the island but trace their roots there.
The Puerto Rican national team had a suspenseful buildup to the Classic. Their team captain, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, had issues with insurance that disabled him from playing. Lindor was one of many Puerto Rican ballplayers who could not play due to insurance.
Mesaros highlights the ways Puerto Rico has overcome these disappointing roster losses.
“Although, obviously, I would have loved to have seen the big players play for Puerto Rico, I think it has been very refreshing to get to see some young guys step up. The way that they have done that has almost set a fire under them,” Mesaros said.
Puerto Rico faces the undefeated Italian team at 3 p.m. on March 14. Italy’s ace pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies starter Aaron Nola, will be resting. Regardless, Mesaros says that Italy’s batters remain dangerous to Puerto Rico.
“Their lineup has been absolutely on fire,” Mesaros said.
Team Italy has been led by Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who set a World Baseball Classic record with three home runs against Mexico. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico has been led by retired MLB catcher Martín Maldonado and Arenado.
The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Italy are only half of the eight remaining teams seeking a championship. Japan, the reigning champion, is also pushing to win. Korea, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela will also fight for the trophy. If the qualifying pool was any indication, anything can happen.
The championship game will take place on March 17 at 8 p.m.