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Anyone looking to watch the World Baseball Classic this March is in for a real treat. After a three-year break, baseball’s biggest international tournament is back—right in the middle of MLB Spring Training. That means your typical preseason baseball fix gets a major upgrade, with meaningful games at all hours.
The 2026 tournament starts on March 4 (U.S. time) and features 20 teams competing through pool play to reach the knockout round. It’s one of the few times you’ll see the game’s biggest stars step away from their regular clubs to proudly suit up for their home countries. That means catching stars like Aaron Judge with Team USA, Shohei Ohtani for Japan, and Julio Rodríguez with the Dominican Republic.
Between global time zones and scattered broadcasts, tracking down every game on TV can get messy. Fortunately, a comprehensive live TV package like our sponsor DIRECTV keeps the main WBC channels in one place. I’ve mapped out the exact networks and the full tournament schedule so you can skip the hunt and start watching.
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DIRECTV has the most MLB games, including Spring Training, period.* Not only that, but this season you can catch the World Baseball Classic and tons of college ball streaming on your favorite devices. With so much live action on deck, it's time to get your game together by scouting DIRECTV's packages today.
*Claim based on total games carried on Nat'l and combined local Regional Sports Networks. RSNs avail. with CHOICE package or higher. Avail. of RSNs varies by ZIP code and pkg. Blackouts apply.
What channels show the World Baseball Classic?
FOX Sports holds the exclusive English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights for the 2026 World Baseball Classic in the U.S. All 47 tournament games will air across FOX, FS1, FS2, Tubi, and the FOX Sports App.
Here’s a list of game counts for each World Baseball Classic channel.
- FOX (7)
- FS1 (19)
- FS2 (12)
- Tubi (7)
- FOX Sports App (2)
If you prefer Spanish-language coverage, 29 of those matchups will air en Español on Fox Deportes. Additionally, every game will be available to stream live on the newly launched FOX One platform. All you need is a subscription or an eligible TV provider account to log in.
2026 World Baseball Classic TV schedule
For stateside viewers, the 2026 World Baseball Classic opens with a late-night Pool C game from Tokyo on Wednesday, March 4. Japan enters as the defending champ after topping Team USA in the 2023 final, and the rest of the 20-team field will be chasing them from day one.
The tournament moves through venues in four time zones before wrapping with the championship game on Tuesday, March 17. With pool play spread across the globe, first pitches can run from early mornings to late nights. I’ve broken down the full U.S. broadcast schedule below so you know exactly when and where to tune in.
WBC pool play schedule
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico) | |||
| Cuba vs. Panama | Friday, March 6 | 11:00 a.m. | FS2, Fox Deportes |
| Puerto Rico vs. Colombia | Friday, March 6 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Colombia vs. Canada | Saturday, March 7 | 11:00 a.m. | FS2, Fox Deportes |
| Panama vs. Puerto Rico | Saturday, March 7 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Colombia vs. Cuba | Sunday, March 8 | Noon | FS2 |
| Panama vs. Canada | Sunday, March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Colombia vs. Panama | Monday, March 9 | Noon | FS2 |
| Cuba vs. Puerto Rico | Monday, March 9 | 7:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| Canada vs. Puerto Rico | Tuesday, March 10 | 7:00 p.m. | Tubi |
| Canada vs. Cuba | Wednesday, March 11 | 3:00 p.m. | FS2, Fox Deportes |
| Pool B (Houston, Texas) | |||
| Mexico vs. Great Britain | Friday, March 6 | 1:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| USA vs. Brazil | Friday, March 6 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Brazil vs. Italy | Saturday, March 7 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX Sports App |
| Great Britain vs. USA | Saturday, March 7 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Great Britain vs. Italy | Sunday, March 8 | 1:00 p.m. | Tubi |
| Brazil vs. Mexico | Sunday, March 8 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Brazil vs. Great Britain | Monday, March 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Tubi |
| Mexico vs. USA | Monday, March 9 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Italy vs. USA | Tuesday, March 10 | 9:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Italy vs. Mexico | Wednesday, March 11 | 7:00 p.m. | Tubi |
| Pool C (Tokyo, Japan) | |||
| Chinese Taipei vs. Australia | Wednesday, March 4 | 10:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Czechia vs. Korea | Thursday, March 5 | 5:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Australia vs. Czechia | Thursday, March 5 | 10:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Japan vs. Chinese Taipei | Friday, March 6 | 5:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia | Friday, March 6 | 10:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Korea vs. Japan | Saturday, March 7 | 5:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Chinese Taipei vs. Korea | Saturday, March 7 | 10:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Australia vs. Japan | Sunday, March 8 | 6:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Korea vs. Australia | Monday, March 9 | 6:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Czechia vs. Japan | Tuesday, March 10 | 6:00 a.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Pool D (Miami, Florida) | |||
| Netherlands vs. Venezuela | Friday, March 6 | Noon | Tubi |
| Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic | Friday, March 6 | 7:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Nicaragua vs. Netherlands | Saturday, March 7 | Noon | Tubi |
| Israel vs. Venezuela | Saturday, March 7 | 7:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic | Sunday, March 8 | Noon | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Nicaragua vs. Israel | Sunday, March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Tubi |
| Dominican Republic vs. Israel | Monday, March 9 | Noon | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Venezuela vs. Nicaragua | Monday, March 9 | 7:00 p.m. | FS2 |
| Israel vs. Netherlands | Tuesday, March 10 | 7:00 p.m. | FOX Sports App, Fox Deportes |
| Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela | Wednesday, March 11 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
WBC knockout round schedule
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | |||
| Quarterfinal 1 | Friday, March 13 | 6:30 p.m. | FS2, Fox Deportes |
| Quarterfinal 2 | Friday, March 13 | 7:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Quarterfinal 3 | Saturday, March 14 | 2:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Quarterfinal 4 | Saturday, March 14 | 9:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Finals | |||
| Semifinal 1 | Sunday, March 15 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Semifinal 2 | Monday, March 16 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Championship | Tuesday, March 17 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
Best TV plans for watching the World Baseball Classic
Signing up for an entire TV plan to watch the two-week World Baseball Classic may seem inconvenient. But you won’t be able to watch the 33 games exclusive to FS1, FS2, and the FOX Sports App without a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription.
Because you need maximum channel coverage with zero hassle, here are my top provider recommendations for the 2026 tournament.
Best of the Best: DIRECTV
DIRECTV ($89.99–$169.99/mo.) is my absolute top pick if you want the most comprehensive sports lineup available. Watching baseball on DIRECTV means you get the exact premium network mix required for the entire World Baseball Classic, plus a massive slate of regional and national networks. As always, I recommend double-checking your local package details before signing up to make sure you get exactly what you need.
The biggest reason I recommend DIRECTV here is what happens after the WBC ends. Opening Day is right around the corner, and DIRECTV’s massive sports channel coverage makes it the best TV provider for following the MLB regular season. If you want one service that carries the WBC right now and seamlessly transitions into your daily baseball habit afterward, DIRECTV is the cleanest all-in-one fit.
Best Bang for Your Buck: FOX One
If your only goal is to stream the World Baseball Classic without buying a massive TV package, FOX One is the option I’d look at first. This standalone streaming service puts every single WBC matchup—including the Spanish-language broadcasts—into one convenient app so you never have to switch platforms to find a game.
At just $19.99/mo., it’s the perfect low-commitment route. You can sign up, catch the entire tournament, and cancel when the championship trophy is hoisted.
But here’s the best part. If you already pay for a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service that carries the FOX Sports channels, you don’t even need to buy a FOX One subscription. You can simply download the FOX One app, sign in with your existing TV provider login, and stream every game from your phone or smart TV at no extra cost.
Which TV providers carry World Baseball Classic games?
While FOX Sports channels are widely available across most TV providers, digging through their individual channel guides can be a hassle. To save you some time, I’ve compared 13 popular services in the table below so you can quickly see who carries every WBC channel.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*May require Spanish-language plan or separate add-on.
How to watch the World Baseball Classic for free
If you’re on a strict budget, you can still catch a solid chunk of the World Baseball Classic for free. Here are the three best ways to pull it off.
- Use an over-the-air (OTA) antenna: You can watch the seven must-see games on FOX for free by connecting a digital antenna to your TV and tuning in to your local affiliate. If you still need hardware, check out our Best OTA Antennas guide. You can also verify your local signal strength and required range by entering your zip code into Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Tool.
- Stream on Tubi: Because FOX owns the ad-supported streaming platform Tubi, several group stage matchups will stream there at no cost. Tubi will also stream FIFA World Cup games this summer, so I highly recommend you set up your free account now.
- Leverage live TV free trials: For the bulk of the tournament locked behind FS1 and FS2, free trials from live TV streaming services like DIRECTV and Fubo can be a lifesaver. If you strategically time your sign-up, you can catch a crucial block of the tournament without paying a single subscription fee.
How to watch the World Baseball Classic FAQ
Can I watch the World Baseball Classic without cable?
Yes, you can watch the entire World Baseball Classic without a traditional cable subscription. Any live TV streaming service that carries FOX, FS1, and FS2 will give you full tournament access. You can also catch select games for free on Tubi and with a digital antenna.
Is the World Baseball Classic on MLB.TV?
No, the 2026 World Baseball Classic won't stream on MLB.TV because FOX Sports owns the exclusive broadcast rights. Instead, you'll need Tubi and a TV plan that includes FOX, FS1, and FS2.
What teams are in the World Baseball Classic?
The 2026 tournament features 20 international teams separated into four regional pools for the group stage.
- Pool A: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico
- Pool B: Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, USA
- Pool C: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, South Korea
- Pool D: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Venezuela
Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?
The 2026 tournament will take place in four cities: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; Tokyo, Japan; and Miami, Florida. Pool play will unfold in all four cities, while the semifinals and championship game will be hosted exclusively at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Is there a World Cup for baseball?
Yes, the World Baseball Classic is the official baseball equivalent of the FIFA World Cup. While the Baseball World Cup existed from 1938 to 2011, the World Baseball Classic eventually took its place to crown the sport's "World Champion."
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched the top TV providers to find the most practical ways to watch the World Baseball Classic. He determined his recommendations by weighing monthly pricing against the FOX network lineups required to catch every matchup. To give fans the best long-term value, Taylor also factored in standard MLB broadcast data so your TV plan easily transitions from the WBC straight into the regular season.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
