That was fun. Now the question is: when can we do that again? International baseball got fans excited about the game again, so when is the next WBC?
When is the next World Baseball Classic? All you need to know about the seventh WBC
Watching Team USA play against teams like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Italy renewed baseball fans’ love of the game. The 2026 MLB Opening Day is just a week away and, with a possible lockout in 2027, this season feels special. We’ll see what happens in 2027, but as far as international baseball is concerned, we have the 2028 Summer Olympics just two years down the road.
When is the next World Baseball Classic?
If you look at the last six WBCs, you won’t see a clear pattern and a lot of fans are asking if the next WBC will be in 2029 or 2030. The previous WBC was in 2023, right? So is it played every three years or four years? The WBC has been played in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023, and 2026. The original idea was for it to be played every four years and with the 2028 Summer Olympics in two years, the next WBC will be in 2030.
Team USA won’t be playing fair in the 2030 World Baseball Classic 🇺🇸
— AT (@YankeeWRLD) March 18, 2026
C: Drake Baldwin
1B: Nick Kurtz
2B: Konnor Griffin
SS: Bobby Witt Jr.
3B: Gunnar Henderson
LF: Roman Anthony
CF: Wyatt Langford
RF: Corbin Carroll
DH: Ben Rice
SP: P. Skenes | T. Skubal | C. Schlittler pic.twitter.com/j4w1DLtEUC
It’s unsure where the event will be played in 2030, but if past venues are any indication, Florida, Arizona, Texas and possible Puerto Rico, Mexico and Korea and Japan are probable locations for the 2030 WBC.
At the moment 20 teams will play in 2030 if nothing changes. We know these 16 teams have already qualified:
Pool A: Canada, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia
Pool B: Italy, USA, Mexico, Great Britain
Pool C: Japan, Korea, Australia, Chinese Taipei
Pool D: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Venezuela
In the meantime, we can sit back and enjoy the 2026 MLB season, pray the 2027 takes place without a holdout and hope the MLB finds a way to let players take part in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. We’ll keep you posted as we find out more information.
Related stories
Venezuela’s hero: Maikel Garcia named MVP of WBC 2026
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment