WBC 2026: Quarterfinals Begin, Italy Advances Undefeated
The group stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic has concluded, and the quarterfinal matchups begin on Friday, March 13. Italy is the surprise of the tournament, advancing undefeated and eliminating favored USA.
Group Stage Over, Knockout Round Begins
The 2026 World Baseball Classic enters its decisive phase. After eight days of group matches, sixteen teams have been whittled down to eight quarterfinalists, with play beginning on Friday, March 13. The tournament has seen several surprises — none bigger than the dominance of the Italian team.
Italy Makes History — First Undefeated Team in WBC History
The biggest sensation of the group stage is undoubtedly Italy, which became the first team in World Baseball Classic history to go through the entire group stage without a single loss. The Italian baseball players won all four games in Group B and enter the quarterfinals with a 4-0 record.
The culmination of their group stage run was a 9-1 victory over Mexico in the final round, but even more attention was drawn to their previous triumph over the USA 8-6. The favored American team suffered its only group loss and advanced only thanks to the results of the other teams in the standings.
Italy will face Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 PM Slovak time in Houston.
Quarterfinal Schedule
The quarterfinal matches are divided into two days at two venues — Daikin Park in Houston and LoanDepot Park in Miami:
- Friday, March 13 — Dominican Republic vs. Korea (6:30 PM ET, Miami) and USA vs. Canada (8:00 PM ET, Houston, live on FOX)
- Saturday, March 14 — Italy vs. Puerto Rico (3:00 PM ET, Houston) and Japan vs. Venezuela (9:00 PM ET, Miami, live on FOX)
The semifinal matches are scheduled for Sunday, March 15, and the final will take place on March 17 in Miami at LoanDepot Park.
USA vs. Canada: Battle of North American Rivals
Despite their loss to Italy, the American team advanced from Group B with a 3-1 record. Several stars shine on the USA team — outfielder Roman Anthony was one of the best hitters in the group, catcher Kyle Schwarber recorded a series of solid performances, and pitcher Paul Skenes threw four flawless innings with seven strikeouts.
Canada, on the other hand, is experiencing a historic moment — they have advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic for the first time in history. Pitcher Cal Quantrill played a decisive role in the advancement, throwing five excellent innings in the final group match against Cuba. The Canadian team won Group A and enters Friday's game as the group winner.
Japan vs. Venezuela: Champion Versus Unexpected Qualifier
Defending champion Japan went through the group stage without major complications. Superstar Shohei Ohtani was absent from the final group match, which nevertheless did not prevent Japan from advancing. Venezuela advanced to the quarterfinals as the second team in their group and will face one of the biggest favorites of the entire tournament on Saturday evening.
Outlook for the Final
The tournament is heading towards its climax. Italy is currently the hottest team, and many analysts consider them a dark horse in the entire competition. Japan remains the favorite, but the history of WBC 2026 has already shown that surprises are more than possible. The final match on March 17 in Miami promises a dramatic culmination to one of the most watched baseball events of the year.
