MIAMI – The last double headers of pool play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic have concluded, and only two games remain in each pool. We now know which four teams are headed back to the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, and five teams have clinched berths in the quarterfinals.
So far, we know that Puerto Rico will advance to the quarterfinals, Cuba and Canada can still advance, and Panama will go back to the World Baseball Classic Qualfier from the next tournament from Pool A in San Juan. In Pool B in Houston, Brazil will have to qualify for the next WBC, the United States will likely advance, though they haven’t yet clinched a spot in the elimination games, and Italy and Mexico can still advance to the quarterfinals.
At the Tokyo Dome, Japan has won Pool C, South Korea has advanced, and Czechia will have to qualifiy for the next WBC. And in Miami’s Pool D, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have advanced, and their game on Wednesday night will determine the pool winner, with the winner facing Japan in the quarterfinal and the loser facing South Korea. Nicaragua will again have to qualify for the next World Baseball Classic.
Monday’s Results
South Korea (2-2) 7, Australia (2-2) 2 – Korea stormed the field in celebration after a 7-2 victory over Australia on Monday night at the Tokyo Dome, miraculously clinching second place in Pool C and a spot in the quarterfinals via tiebreaker.
Dominican Republic (3-0) 10, Israel (1-2) 1 – Israel managed to escape the WBC’s early termination rule, by which games end when a team leads by 15 runs at any point or by 10 runs after seven innings, falling 10-1 in Pool D play.
Colombia (1-3) 4, Panama (1-3) 3 – Colombia staved off relegation to the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, holding Panama to three runs on seven hits. Panama starter Paolo Espino, the only player in this year’s tournament who played in the 2006 WBC, threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his final game, and Jonathan Arauz, discontented with manager Jose Mayorga, had to be held back from fighting his skipper in the dugout.
Great Britain (1-3) 8, Brazil (0-4) 0 – Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and Ian Lewis Jr. hit a solo homer as Great Britain topped Brazil to earn a berth in the next World Baseball Classic. Brazil, with the loss, will have to attempt to qualify for the next WBC.
Puerto Rico (3-0) 4, Cuba (2-1) 1 – Five Puerto Rico pitchers combined to hold Cuba to just two hits and one run as the Rubios improved to 3-0 and clinched a berth in the semifinals. Martin Maldonado drove in three runs with a double in the second, putting Puerto Rico ahead for good.
Venezuela (3-0) 4, Nicaragua (0-3) 0 – Nicaragua, in what was likely Dusty Baker’s final game in uniform, held Venezuela to four runs and five hits in a 4-0 loss largely powered by Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., who went 3-for-3 with a homer, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
United States (3-0) 5, Mexico (2-1) 3 – Paul Skenes threw four scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk and striking out seven, and the U.S. got homers from Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony as they clinched a berth in the quarterfinals with a win over Mexico in Houston.
Tuesday’s Schedule
6 a.m. EDT – Czechia (0-3) vs. Japan (3-0) – Tokyo Dome – TV: FS1 – Ondrej Satoria, the electrician with a fastball that tops out around 80 mph but managed to strike out Shohei Ohtani in the 2023 World Baseball Championship, will likely make his final appearance for the Czechs. Satoria has announced he will retire following the 2026 WBC, and also brought the ball from his strikeout of the best player in the world to the tournament in hopes of getting it signed by Ohtani. Japan will start Hiroto Takahashi, who posted a 2.83 ERA in 171 2/3 innings with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball last year.
7 p.m. EDT – Israel (1-2) vs. The Netherlands (1-2) – loanDepot Park – TV: FOX App – While neither of these teams is likely to advance to the quarterfinals, a win gives them a shred of hope to move on if — and only if — Venezuela is upset by Nicaragua and loses to the Dominican Republic in the Pool C finale. Ryjeteri Merite will start for the Netherlands, while Israel skipper Brad Ausmus hasn’t named a starter.
7 p.m. EDT – Canada (1-1) vs. Puerto Rico (3-0) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: Tubi – A win assures Puerto Rico of a berth in the quarterfinals at Daikin Park in Houston, while a win for Canada would make their game against Cuba on Wednesday a win-or-go-home scenario. Jordan Balazovic will start for Canada, while Puerto Rico hasn’t named a starter.
9 p.m. EDT – Italy (2-0) vs. United States (3-0) – Daikin Park – TV: FS1 – Italy general manager Ned Colletti assembled a team that could shock the world. If the Azzurri can beat the U.S., they’d likely advance to the quarterfinals, but if they lose, the U.S. wins the pool, and that would set up a win-and-you’re-in matchup between Italy and Mexico on Wednesday night, with the winner advancing and the loser going home.
Photo: Aaron Judge watches his two-run home run during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Monday, March 9, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
