Best pool play World Baseball Classic matchups when the tournament starts

Before the 2026 MLB season gets underway, the World Baseball Classic has returned to determine who the best national team in the world is.

There will be 20 teams vying for the title, and pool play begins this week with the final set on March 17 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida – home of the Miami Marlins.

The tournament will feature baseball powerhouses, including Team USA, which will have the likes of Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and many more leading the way for what the US hopes are more victories in 2026, especially after how the Milan Cortina Games ended.

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But others such as Japan, the reigning WBC champions and the Dominican Republic are looking to brag for the next three years until the tournament returns. With only two teams from each of the four pools progressing to the quarter-finals, there are already some fantastic matches in store for this year’s tournament.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top five must-see pool game matchups for all baseball lovers, starting in Tokyo.

Japan vs. Korea – March 7 at 5 ET

Time to set those alarms off, because Shohei Ohtani and reigning WBC champions Japan host Korea, and these two rivals have delivered some epic games in the past in this tournament.

In 2009, these two battled it out in an extra-innings championship, having played against each other since 1954. But while Japan have cemented themselves as the team to beat in this tournament, Korea have been unable to capture that glory from previous years, failing to make it out of the group stage since the 2009 WBC.

Korea has some solid players on its roster, including a veteran in big-game scenarios as Hyun-Jin Ryu, the former Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, will take the plunge at 38 years old. It also features big leaguers like Hyeseong Kim, Jung Hoo Lee, Shay Whitcomb and Jahmai Jones.

But Japan had it loaded once again, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Yusei Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Sugano are recognizable names on the pitching staff, while Munetaka Murakami, Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida join Ohtani in the lineup.

Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands – 8 March at 12:00 PM ET

You might not see this as a rivalry, but these teams definitely have a feud as many players are from Curaçao – an island country within the kingdom. Think Kenley Jensen, Ozzie Albies, Xander Bogaerts (Aruba), Jurickson Profar and Ceddanne Rafaela. Even Didi Gregorius, who was actually born in Amsterdam, will be on the field to face a stacked Dominican team this weekend.

Juan Soto of the Dominican Republic hits a home run in the third inning of the World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Puerto Rico at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Take a look at DR’s roster and you’ll find All-Star after All-Star, from Manny Machado to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., to Juan Soto, to Fernando Tatis Jr., and the list goes on and on. It’s arguably the best lineup in the tournament given the star power out there, and there’s no doubt that each one of them will want to get out of the group stage after failing to do so last time.

USA vs. Mexico – March 9 at 8 p.m. ET

While Team USA has quite the streak, Mexico has been victorious in each of their last three matchups, and it wasn’t close in 2023 when El Tri beat the Stars and Stripes, 11-5.

Nevertheless, the USA made it to the championship, eventually losing to Japan. As a result, the team’s roster is literally the best it’s ever been, with a rotation that will feature Tarik Skubal (who is only expected to pitch in one pool game against Great Britain), Skenes, Nolan McLean, Logan Webb and others.

In the bullpen, Mason Miller is set to close out games, while Garrett Whitlock, Griffin Jax and others bring electric stuff in high-leverage situations.

And in the field, while the aforementioned Judge will captain this Team USA team, the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Byron Buxton provide a deep roster for manager Mark DeRosa to play with throughout the tournament.

WBC Team USA captain Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa speak to the media during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York, New York. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos)

But Mexico once again has a solid pack with Jonathan Aranda, Randy Arozarena, Jarren Duran and Luis Urias as notable bats in the lineup. On the mound, Taj Bradley, Taijuan Walker and electric closer Andrés Muñoz highlight the pitching staff.

Puerto Rico vs. Canada – March 10 at 7 p.m. ET

For the first time since 2013, Puerto Rico is hosting WBC pool play, and San Juan is sure to be raucous when its national team takes the field against a Canadian team that is also bursting with talent.

Jameson Taillon, Cal Quantrill and Mike Soroka are in the rotation, while the Naylor brothers, Josh and Bo, will play together for their country. The slugging Tyler O’Neill also returns to the team, and Abraham Toro, Otto Lopez and Edouard Julien are just some of the big leaguers on the squad.

But it’s hard not to expect Puerto Rico to handle business in their capital, as it has a deep pitching staff, with closer Edwin Diaz hoping for redemption after his freak 2023 accident that led to a season-ending injury while with the New York Mets. Seth Lugo, Fernando Cruz, Jorge Lopez and Jose Espada provide intimidating depth, and the position players are recognizable names.

The biggest, however, is Nolan Arenado, who helped the United States win gold in 2017 and silver in 2023. Although he grew up around a large Cuban family, his maternal grandmother is Puerto Rican, and he noted that he wanted to play for Puerto Rico in the past. This is his moment to do so, as the newest Arizona Diamondbacks Platinum Glove third baseman will hope to add some solid play there as he has done with the US in the past.

Edwin Diaz of Team Puerto Rico celebrates a strikeout during a 5-2 win against Team Dominican Republic during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela – March 11 at 8 p.m. ET

This could be the best pool play in the entire first round of this WBC as star power galore will be on full display.

We have already mentioned what DR brings to the table, but Venezuela is also burdened in all areas. Salvador Perez will return behind the plate, but William Contreras is also there to catch along with his brother at first base, Willson. Luis Arraez, Eugenio Suarez, Andres Gimenez and Gleyber Torres highlight the infield, while Ronald Acuña Jr., Wilyer Abreu and Jackson Chourio hold down the outfield for Venezuela.

There’s a chance these two teams will finish as the first and second seeds in Pool D. And we might want them to, considering this pool play could have a championship feel when they take the field in Miami.

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