S. Korea grouped with Japan, Australia, Czechia at 2026 World Baseball Classic

SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will face familiar opponents at the next edition of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2026.

The tournament's organizing committee announced groups and dates for the 2026 competition Thursday. And for the second straight tournament, South Korea will be in the same group with the defending champion Japan, Australia and the Czech Republic.

Those four teams will be joined by a qualifier in Pool C and will play round-robin games at Tokyo Dome from March 5 to 10.

At the 2023 WBC, South Korea played those three opponents and China in Pool B at Tokyo Dome. South Korea finished third in its group with a 2-2 record, suffering its third consecutive first-round exit. South Korea defeated Czechia and China, but lost to Japan and Australia.

For the 2026 tournament, there will be four groups of five.

Pool A teams are: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama and a qualifier. They will play their preliminary games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Pool B will feature the United States, Mexico, Italy, Britain and a qualifier, with games scheduled to be played in Houston.

Pool D teams are: Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel and a qualifier. Their games will be in Miami.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. Qualifiers from Pools A and B will square off at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. Teams advancing out of Pools C and D will meet at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins.

Miami will also host the semifinals on March 15 and 16, and the championship game on March 17.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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