2023 World Baseball Classic: Which teams have qualified for the quarter-finals?
As the pool stage ended, we completed our line-up for the first round in the knockout stage.


It’s business time and eight teams have made their way out of their respective pools and clinched a place in the 2023 World Baseball Classic quarter-finals.
- USA’s bullpen key to 3-2 win over Colombia
- Puerto Rico outduels Dominican Republic in 5-2 win
- Mexico take Canada apart
2023 World Baseball Classic quarter-finalists
The four groups are taking place in different locations, Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami. The following teams qualified for the quarter-finals:
- Group A - Cuba and Italy
- Group B - Japan and Australia
- Group C - Mexico and USA
- Group D - Venezuela and Puerto Rico
An emotional, validating win for Team Australia. 🇦🇺#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/ECaHmQAyGT
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
2023 World Baseball Classic: quarter-finals
The quarter finals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic saw Pool A and B face off against each other and Pool C and D did the same, with the first placed team playing second. Here’s how this looks:
- QF1: Australia vs Cuba - Cuba advances
- QF2: Italy vs Japan
- QF3: USA vs Venezuela
- QF4: Puerto Rico vs Mexico
Team USA has a date with Team Venezuela in the #WorldBaseballClassic quarterfinals. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/J5FH0TGJt6
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 16, 2023
2023 World Baseball Classic: semi-finals

Edwin Diaz injured celebrating win
The semi-finals have been paired as follows:
- SF1: Cuba vs QF3 winner
- SF2: QF2 winner vs QF4 winner
Team Cuba reaches its first #WorldBaseballClassic semifinals since 2006. pic.twitter.com/JCdYwGvZ8O
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 15, 2023
How the pool positions were decided including tie-breaker
During the pool round, teams in each were ranked based on the percentage of games won. The two teams with the highest percentage in each pool moved on to the quarter-final stage. If teams within a pool have the same winning percentage at the end, the tie will be resolved in the following order:
- The team that won games between the tied teams will be ranked higher. If three or more teams are tied and one of those teams won all games against the other tied teams, it will be ranked highest. If one of the tied teams lost all games against the other tied teams, it will be ranked lowest.
- The tied teams will be ranked based on the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games played between the tied teams in that round.
- The tied teams will be ranked based on the lowest quotient of fewest earned runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games played between the tied teams in that round.
- The tied teams will be ranked based on the highest batting average in games played between the tied teams in that round.
- If the tie remains unresolved, the standings will be determined by a drawing of lots conducted by WBCI.