The pool play stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic has officially concluded, and if the first round was any indication, the knockout stage is going to be absolute mayhem. We’ve seen a historic three-homer game, a “failed” superpower in Team USA needing a rescue from Italy, and the defending champions from Japan looking as invincible as ever.
As we move to the single-elimination Quarterfinals starting tomorrow, March 13, here is everything you need to know about the eight teams left standing.
The Quarterfinal Bracket
| Date | Matchup | Location | TV |
| Fri, March 13 (6:30 PM ET) | Dominican Republic vs. Korea | Miami, FL | FS2 |
| Fri, March 13 (8:00 PM ET) | USA vs. Canada | Houston, TX | FOX |
| Sat, March 14 (3:00 PM ET) | Italy vs. Puerto Rico | Houston, TX | FS1 |
| Sat, March 14 (9:00 PM ET) | Japan vs. Venezuela | Miami, FL | FOX |
Game-by-Game Breakdown
1. Dominican Republic vs. South Korea
The D.R. lived up to the “Offensive Juggernaut” label, finishing pool play 4-0 and outscoring opponents by a staggering margin.
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The Story: This is the first time these two nations have ever met in the WBC. The D.R. lineup—led by Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.—has been launching home runs at a record pace.
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The Korean Defense: Korea is back in the knockout rounds for the first time since 2009. They’ll rely on their disciplined contact hitting to try and frustrate the D.R.’s high-velocity arms.
2. USA vs. Canada (The Border War)
This is the game everyone in North America is circling. For the first time in WBC history, these two were in separate pools, setting up this high-stakes elimination game.
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USA’s Wake-Up Call: After a shocking 8-6 loss to Italy, Team USA was nearly eliminated. They are moving on as the #2 seed from Pool B, which means they lose home-field “Miami” advantage and have to play in Houston.
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Canada’s Ascent: Canada shocked Pool A, beating Puerto Rico and Cuba to take the top seed. With Michael Soroka expected on the mound, they aren’t intimidated by the “Dream Team” roster.
3. Italy vs. Puerto Rico
Italy is the “Cinderella” story of 2026. They swept Pool B (4-0), including that massive win over the United States.
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The Espresso Factor: Captain Vinnie Pasquantino is the hottest hitter in the world right now, coming off the first 3-home run game in WBC history against Mexico.
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Puerto Rico’s Redemption: Team Rubio is looking to erase the memory of their 2023 quarterfinal exit. Their middle infield remains the gold standard of the tournament.
4. Japan vs. Venezuela
This is essentially a “Shadow Final.” Both teams are loaded with MLB and international superstars.
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Samurai Japan: They cruised through Tokyo with a 4-0 record. Munetaka Murakami finally had his breakout moment with a monstrous grand slam in the 8th inning against Czechia. While Shohei Ohtani is strictly DHing this year, their pitching staff (led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto) has a tournament-low 1.25 ERA.
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Venezuela’s Firepower: Venezuela finished 3-1, with their only loss coming in a 7-5 nail-biter to the D.R. They have the power to match Japan strike-for-strike.
Players to Watch
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Vinnie Pasquantino (Italy): If he keeps this “three-homer” energy, Italy might actually win the whole thing.
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Paul Skenes (USA): Expect him to get the start against Canada. After the Italy scare, the U.S. can’t afford a slow start.
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Munetaka Murakami (Japan): Now that he’s found his swing, he is arguably more dangerous than Ohtani in this specific tournament format.
Prediction
The winner of USA/Canada will face the winner of Korea/D.R. in the first Semifinal on Sunday. On paper, we are on a collision course for a USA vs. Dominican Republic semifinal, which would be the most-watched game in the history of the sport.
