The 2026 World Baseball Classic is down to Day 6 of group play.
Action started in Tokyo with the final Group C game. World No. 1 Japan used an eighth-inning rally to break the tie and beat No. 15 Czechia. Japan will head to the quarterfinals undefeated, along with second-place and No. 4 Korea.
Three more games are on the day’s programme.
In Group D, No. 7 Puerto Rico will host No. 20 Canada at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan at midnight GMT. The game is more relevant for Canada (1-1), while Puerto Rico already secured a spot in the quarterfinals.
No. 9 Netherlands will play No. 21 Israel at loan Depot Park in Miami to open Group D’s day. The result will determine the third and fourth-place finishers, but both teams have already secured a spot in the 2030 World Baseball Classic.
In Group B, No. 3 USA will host No. 14 Italy at 2:00 am GMT on Wednesday, March 11. With a win the USA would guarantee first place.
World Baseball Classic Day 6Czechia-Japan0-9BOX SCOREIsrael-Netherlands23:00 GMTBOX SCORECanada-Puerto Rico23:00 GMTBOX SCOREItaly-USA01:00 GMT (March 11)BOX SCOREGROUP C GAMESJapan-Czechia 9-0
Japan used a nine-run bottom of the eighth rally to overcome Czechia and finish Group C undefeated.
Right-hander Hiroto Takahashi took the mound for Japan, while Ondrej Sotoria started for Czechia.
Satoria, who made himself known in International Baseball when he defeated Mexico in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2021, used 67 pitches to keep Japan scoreless for 4.2 innings. Samurai Japan had the best scoring chance in the bottom of the fourth. Masataka Yoshida reached on a one-out single and advanced to third as Kazuma Okamoto doubled to left field.
The Czech starter got to the second out at home on Kaito Kozono’s comebacker to the mound, and the inning ended when Ukyo Shuto grounded out to second.
Satoria left with the potential go-ahead run at second and two outs. His reliever Mikal Kovala got Teruaki Sato on a lineout to shortstop to end the inning. It was a day to remember for the 28-year-old pitcher, who got Shohei Ohtani among his three strikeouts.
Japan got to Novak in the bottom of the eighth and broke the tie. Kenya Wakatsuki doubled to put Samurai Japan on the scoreboard. Shuto added a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
Czechia handed the ball to Ryan Johnson who walked in the fifth run and then allowed a grand slam to superstar Munetaka Murakami.
Yumeto Kanemaru, the second reliever for Takahashi, pitched two perfect innings for the win. Koki Kitayama struck out the side in the top of the ninth.
Three games are scheduled for the seventh and final day of group play.
No. 20 Canada will face No. 10 Cuba at 19:00 GMT in San Juan for Group A’s final game.
No. 14 Italy will play No. 6 Mexico at 23:00 GMT at Daikin Park in Houston to complete Group B’s programme.
Group D will conclude at midnight GMT on Thursday, March 12, when No. 12 Dominican Republic takes on No. 5 Venezuela in Miami. The winner will head to the quarterfinals as the first-place finisher, the loser will qualify as the second-place team
LA 2028 Qualification Process
The 2026 World Baseball Classic also forms part of the qualification pathway to LA28. The baseball tournament at the Olympic Games will feature six teams, and while USA is already qualified as host, the two highest-placed teams from the Americas at the World Baseball Classic will also earn quota places at the Olympic tournament.
Cover Photo: WBCI/MLB Photos by Getty Images