2023 World Baseball Classic: How much money do national teams get for participating?

The World Baseball Classic is back after a six-year hiatus and has a newly expanded, 20-team format. The qualifying rounds last year were exciting enough and watching each country compete to be a part of it was exciting in itself, but there was more than just national pride at stake.

Each of the 20 teams who qualified and will compete in the WBC will receive a decent payday. There is a prize pool of $14.4 million to be distributed and the first chunk is just in showing up. Each of the 20 teams will receive $300,000 which is split 50/50 between the national federation and the players and staff.

As an example, the Czech Republic, who are all amateur players, will receive $3947 each for making it this far. If we were talking about teams like the USA or Dominican Republic, who are all professionals, that would be pocket change. But for players who earn their crust as teachers, firemen, and carpenters the money is a little more meaningful.

But it doesn’t stop there. As an added incentive, as well as an added reward, each level that the team achieves carries another bonus. So for the four group winners, there will be an additional $300,000 payment. Each team who advances to the quarterfinals will receive another $400,000.

The Semi Final carries a prize of $500,000 for appearing. And the grand prize for the winner? A cool $1 million.

When you add it all up, the team who eventually win will have made at least $2.7 million and could be $3 million if they win their group as well. The players’ end of that is between $35,526 and $39,474 each.

Prize payouts