The 2026 World Baseball Classic is out of pool play and into the knockout rounds, and the United States will face Canada in the quarterfinals in a single-elimination showdown. Team USA is in Houston after finishing second in Pool B, while Canada won Pool A.
Team USA’s path here was not exactly clean. The Americans went 3-1 in Pool B, but they needed help to advance, backing into the quarterfinals after Italy’s 9-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday. Instead of bulldozing through the group, the U.S. arrived here looking talented, imperfect and a little less invincible than advertised.
How to watch USA vs. Canada in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals
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Canada, meanwhile, comes in with real momentum. It also finished 3-1, clinching a place in the quarterfinals for the first time ever with a 7-2 win over Cuba. Canada earned the top seed in the group thanks to a head-to-head victory over Puerto Rico, a meaningful result for a program that has not often been one of the Classic’s marquee teams.
Friday’s winner moves to the semifinals in Miami on March 15, while the championship is March 17. The loser goes home.
The U.S. hopes to advance by relying on the strength of its starting pitching and hitting that wakes up earlier than it did in the 8-6 loss to Italy. Starting against Canada is Logan Webb, the San Francisco Giants ace who gave up one run and one hit in Team USA’s WBC opener against Brazil.
Captain Aaron Judge homered in his first at-bat in that game, then hit another in the crucial win over Mexico. The three-time AL MVP looks to rebound after an 0-for-4 outing against Italy.
On the mound for Canada is Michael Soroka, who also allowed just one run in his previous Classic start. The Arizona Diamondbacks righty will have support from outfielder Denzel Clarke, the human highlight reel who plays for the Athletics. Josh Naylor has just two RBIs so far for Canada, but the Seattle Mariners first baseman is always a threat at the plate.
The first round used a 65-pitch limit for pitchers, the quarterfinals move to 80, and the championship round to 95, with the exception that a pitcher may exceed the limit to finish a plate appearance. That’s relevant because the Classic is not just about star power. In a short tournament, roster depth and bullpen management matter almost as much as the lineup.
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