The 2026 World Baseball Classic reached Day 6 of group play with decisive results across all four pools, as Japan completed an unbeaten run in Group C, Canada tightened the race in Group A, Italy seized control of Group B with a statement win over the United States, and Israel closed its campaign by securing third place in Group D.
Action began in Tokyo with the final Group C game, where world No. 1 Japan used an eighth-inning rally to break a tie and defeat No. 15 Czechia. Samurai Japan finished group play undefeated and advanced to the quarterfinals alongside second-place and No. 4 Korea.
In Group A, Canada edged Puerto Rico, 3–2, handing the hosts their first loss of the tournament. A pair of bases-loaded walks proved to be the difference. Canada will face Cuba on Wednesday in a win-or-go-home matchup for both sides. Puerto Rico have already qualified and will finish first in the group if Cuba win. A Canada victory would instead send them to the top of the standings, with Puerto Rico finishing second.
Three home runs powered Italy past the United States, 8–6, in a historic win for the European side. Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci, and Jac Caglianone went deep for the Azzurri, who held off a late USA comeback.
With the result, Italy took control of Group B with a perfect 3–0 record and one game remaining against Mexico (2–1) on Wednesday. An Italy win would clinch first place and secure second for the United States, while a Mexico victory would create a three-way tie at 3–1.
In Group D, Israel defeated the Netherlands, 6–2, to finish third in the group standings, with the Dutch ending their campaign in fourth place.
World Baseball Classic Day 6GROUP B GAMESItaly-USA 8-6
Italy claimed a historic win in Houston, defeating USA, 8-6, to remain undefeated in Group B. The Europeans built an 8-0 lead through six innings and then held off a late USA comeback to secure one of the most memorable victories in the country’s baseball history.
In the second inning, Kyle Teel put Italy on the board with a solo homer to left field, and Sam Antonacci followed with a 403-foot two-run shot to give the Europeans a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Jac Caglianone lined a two-run homer over the right-field fence.
Italy added three more runs in the sixth, taking advantage of a throwing error by pitcher Brad Keller to extend the lead to 8-0.
USA responded in the bottom of the sixth with a Gunnar Henderson homer and cut the deficit further in the seventh on a three-run shot by Pete Crow-Armstrong. An inning later, Roman Anthony drove in a run with an RBI single, and Crow-Armstrong added his second homer of the game in the ninth.
Michael Lorenzen, an 11-year MLB veteran with a 54-55 career record in the Majors, delivered a strong outing for Italy, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out two. With a runner on first in the ninth, Greg Weissert recorded the final two outs — including a clutch strikeout of Aaron Judge — to earn the save.
With the result, Italy took control of Group B with a perfect 3-0 record and one game remaining against Mexico (2-1) on Wednesday. If Italy win, they will clinch first place and USA will secure second; if Mexico win, it would create a three-way tie at 3-1.
GROUP A GAMESCanada-Puerto Rico 3-2
Canada defeated Puerto Rico 3-2 to improve with 2-1 record in Group A. A pair of bases-loaded walks proved decisive.
Nolan Arenado put Puerto Rico in front in the first inning with an RBI single to centre field.
Canada responded in the third by loading the bases, prompting Puerto Rican manager Yadier Molina to call on Rico GarcÃa from the bullpen. The Baltimore Orioles reliever was unable to escape the jam, issuing bases-loaded walks to Tyler O’Neill and Tyler Black to give Canada the lead.
Both teams traded runs in the fourth. Abraham Toro delivered an RBI single for Canada, and MartÃn Maldonado answered by grounding out to second to plate Arenado.
Jordan Balazovic earned the win for Canada, pitching three innings of one-hit ball, allowing one run while striking out three.
Canada will face Cuba on Wednesday in a win-or-go-home game for both sides. Puerto Rico have already qualified and will finish first in the group if Cuba win. A Canada victory would put them atop the standings, with Puerto Rico finishing second.
GROUP D GAMESIsrael-Netherlands 6-2
Jake Gelof drove in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run double, to lift Israel over the Netherlands, 6-2, and secure third place in Group D with a 2-2 record. A five-run rally in the top of the sixth proved decisive.
The Netherlands took the lead in the bottom of the first on a groundout by Xander Bogaerts and a sacrifice fly by Didi Gregorius. However, over the next eight innings, the Dutch lineup managed just two hits and was held scoreless the rest of the way.
Gelof accounted for Israel’s first run in the second inning with an RBI single that scored Noah Mendlinger.
Israel seized control in the sixth, tying the game on an RBI single by RJ Schreck and taking the lead on Gelof’s two-run single. Former big leaguer Matt Mervis then doubled home the final two runs to extend the lead to 6-2.
Israel’s pitching staff was dominant, as seven relievers combined for eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out 10.
GROUP C GAMESJapan-Czechia 9-0
Japan used a nine-run bottom of the eighth rally to overcome Czechia and finish Group C undefeated.
Right-hander Hiroto Takahashi took the mound for Japan, while Ondrej Sotoria started for Czechia.
Satoria, who made himself known in International Baseball when he defeated Mexico in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2021, used 67 pitches to keep Japan scoreless for 4.2 innings. Samurai Japan had the best scoring chance in the bottom of the fourth. Masataka Yoshida reached on a one-out single and advanced to third as Kazuma Okamoto doubled to left field.
The Czech starter got to the second out at home on Kaito Kozono’s comebacker to the mound, and the inning ended when Ukyo Shuto grounded out to second.
Satoria left with the potential go-ahead run at second and two outs. His reliever Mikal Kovala got Teruaki Sato on a lineout to shortstop to end the inning. It was a day to remember for the 28-year-old pitcher, who got Shohei Ohtani among his three strikeouts.
Japan got to Novak in the bottom of the eighth and broke the tie. Kenya Wakatsuki doubled to put Samurai Japan on the scoreboard. Shuto added a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
Czechia handed the ball to Ryan Johnson who walked in the fifth run and then allowed a grand slam to superstar Munetaka Murakami.
Yumeto Kanemaru, the second reliever for Takahashi, pitched two perfect innings for the win. Koki Kitayama struck out the side in the top of the ninth.
Looking ahead to Day 7
Three games are scheduled for the seventh and final day of group play.
No. 20 Canada will face No. 10 Cuba at 19:00 GMT in San Juan for Group A’s final game.
No. 14 Italy will play No. 6 Mexico at 23:00 GMT at Daikin Park in Houston to complete Group B’s programme.
Group D will conclude at midnight GMT on Thursday, March 12, when No. 12 Dominican Republic takes on No. 5 Venezuela in Miami. The winner will head to the quarterfinals as the first-place finisher, the loser will qualify as the second-place team
LA 2028 Qualification Process
The 2026 World Baseball Classic also forms part of the qualification pathway to LA28. The baseball tournament at the Olympic Games will feature six teams, and while USA is already qualified as host, the two highest-placed teams from the Americas at the World Baseball Classic will also earn quota places at the Olympic tournament.
Cover Photo: WBCI/MLB Photos by Getty Images