The 2026 World Baseball Classic standings are coming down to the wire as Pool Play concludes today, March 11. Following Italy’s 8-6 upset over the United States, Pool B remains wide open, while Japan has officially clinched the top seed in Pool C. Today’s final slate of games: Canada vs. Cuba, Italy vs. Mexico, and Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, will determine the final seeds for the Quarterfinal round starting March 13.
Last updated: March 11th, afternoon.
📈 BRACKET UPDATE: See the Updated 2026 WBC Quarterfinal Bracket & Matchup Schedule
⚾ Yesterday’s Recap (March 10)
- Italy 8, USA 6: Italy jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late American rally to take control of Pool B.
- Canada 3, Puerto Rico 2: Canada kept their tournament hopes alive by handing Puerto Rico their first loss.
- Japan 9, Czechia 0: Japan finished pool play a perfect 4-0.
- Israel 6, Netherlands 2: Israel secured third place in Pool D.
📅 Today’s Schedule (March 11)
- Canada vs. Cuba (3 p.m. ET, FS2): A “win or go home” game; the winner advances to the quarterfinals.
- Italy vs. Mexico (7 p.m. ET, Tubi): If Italy wins, they win Pool B; a Mexico win could trigger a three-way tiebreaker with the USA.
- Dominican Rep. vs. Venezuela (8 p.m. ET, FS1): Battle for the #1 seed in Pool D.
Live WBC Pool Standings & Records
As games conclude for the 2026 WBC schedule, we’ll update you here. We’ll include the latest 2026 World Baseball Classic standings and more for you as we work through the pool play games to get to the knockout round.
Updated Standings & “Who’s In” Tracker
| Pool | Clinched Quarterfinals | Status |
| Pool A | Puerto Rico | Canada & Cuba battle for #2 today. |
| Pool B | Pending | USA (3-0) leads; Italy (2-0) is next. |
| Pool C | Japan, South Korea | Group play complete. |
| Pool D | Dominican Republic, Venezuela | Both 3-0; face off Wednesday for #1. |
Pool A and B
| Pool A (San Juan) | W-L | Status | Pool B (Houston) | W-L | Status |
| Puerto Rico | 3-1 | Advanced | Italy | 3-0 | Active |
| Canada | 2-1 | Active | USA | 3-1 | Active |
| Cuba | 2-1 | Active | Mexico | 2-1 | Active |
| Colombia | 1-3 | Eliminated | Great Britain | 1-3 | Eliminated |
| Panama | 1-3 | Eliminated | Brazil | 0-4 | Eliminated |
Why Runs Allowed Matters: If the USA, Italy, and Mexico finish in a three-way tie at 3-1, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. If they are all 1-1 against each other, the seedings are determined by the lowest number of runs allowed per defensive out in the games between the tied teams. Currently, the USA leads the pool with only 7 runs allowed through three games. We have more on all of the scenarios for tonight on the tiebreakers here for you.
Pool C and D
| Pool C (Tokyo) | W-L | Status | Pool D (Miami) | W-L | Status |
| Japan | 4-0 | #1 Seed | Venezuela | 3-0 | Advanced |
| Korea | 2-2 | #2 Seed | Dominican Rep. | 3-0 | Advanced |
| Australia | 2-2 | Eliminated | Israel | 2-2 | Eliminated |
| Chinese Taipei | 2-2 | Eliminated | Netherlands | 1-3 | Eliminated |
| Czechia | 0-4 | Eliminated | Nicaragua | 0-4 | Eliminated |
WBC Tiebreaker Rules Explained
In a 5-team round-robin pool, ties are highly likely. If two or more teams finish with the same winning percentage, the following tiebreakers are applied in this strict order:
- Head-to-Head: The record of the games played between the tied teams.
- Run Quotient (Defensive): The lowest quotient of runs allowed divided by the number of defensive innings played in games between the tied teams.
- Overall Run Quotient: The lowest quotient of runs allowed divided by the number of defensive innings played in all pool games.
- Team Batting Average: The highest batting average in games played between the tied teams.
- The Draw: If all else fails, a drawing of lots by MLB.
What to Watch Today (Tuesday, March 10)
- Italy vs. USA (9:00 PM ET, FS1): This is the game of the day. If the USA wins, they clinch the #1 seed in Pool B. If Italy wins, we could see a three-way tiebreaker scenario.
- Canada vs. Puerto Rico (7:00 PM ET, Tubi): A “must-win” for Canada to stay alive in Pool A.
- Israel vs. Netherlands (7:00 PM ET, FS App): Battle for pride and 2029 qualification in Pool D.
Complete 2026 WBC Coverage
- 2026 WBC Knockout Bracket – See the path to the championship.
- Full Master Schedule & TV Times – Never miss a pitch with our printable TV guide.
WBC 2026 Tournament FAQ
- How many teams advance to the Quarterfinals? The top two teams from each of the four pools advance.
- Where is the championship played? The final rounds will take place at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 17.
- What is the mercy rule? A game ends if a team leads by 15 runs after 5 innings or 10 runs after 7 innings.
📊 NEXT UP: See the full 2026 WBC Quarterfinal Bracket & Matchup Schedule here
