The World Baseball Classic will make its much-anticipated return in 2026, starting on March 5 and ending on March 17.
Japan will aim to defend its title after defeating the United States in the 2023 championship game, a 3-2 win capped off by Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout. Despite being opponents in that game, they were teammates for the Los Angeles Angels at the time.
It will be difficult to follow that up, but the rosters are as talented as ever, with several Major League Baseball players slated to compete this spring. USA begins as the betting favorite, but Japan is projected as one of the top challengers.
Read on for the latest baseball odds of the 2026 WBC at the BetMGM online sportsbook:
Odds to Win the World Baseball Classic 2026
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| USA | +110 |
| Japan | +325 |
| Dominican Republic | +350 |
| Venezuela | +1400 |
| Puerto Rico | +2000 |
| Mexico | +2200 |
| Canada | +4000 |
| Netherlands | +5000 |
| Italy | +5000 |
| Cuba | +5000 |
| Korea | +6600 |
| Colombia | +6600 |
| Panama | +10000 |
| Israel | +10000 |
| Chinese Taipei | +10000 |
| Australia | +20000 |
| Great Britain | +20000 |
| Czechia | +25000 |
| Brazil | +25000 |
| Nicaragua | +25000 |
Who Will Win the World Baseball Classic in 2026?
According to the initial betting odds, USA is the betting favorite to win the World Baseball Classic in 2026. At +110, they have an implied probability of 47.62%.
Coming off a runner-up finish three years ago, the U.S. has put together a roster loaded with MLB players in hopes of winning the WBC for the first time since 2017. As of this writing, manager Mark DeRosa has landed these MLB players for Team USA:
- Alex Bregman
- Byron Buxton
- Ernie Clement
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
- Gunnar Henderson
- Clay Holmes
- Griffin Jax
- Aaron Judge
- Brad Keller
- Clayton Kershaw
- Nolan McLean
- Mason Miller
- Cal Raleigh
- Joe Ryan
- Kyle Schwarber
- Paul Skenes
- Tarik Skubal
- Will Smith
- Gabe Speier
- Brice Turang
- Logan Webb
- Bobby Witt Jr.
They might not have two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who still leads Japan’s roster, but the U.S. is content with having many of the remaining best players in MLB. Skenes and Skubal are coming off Cy Young campaigns, while Judge and Raleigh are fresh off a thrilling American League MVP race.
The roster is so good that Henderson might be bumped off shortstop by Witt.
Japan, meanwhile, currently has at least eight MLB players slated for its roster, including Dodgers teammates Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (the 2025 World Series MVP). Their +325 odds are appealing, particularly given the event’s history.
Of the five WBC championships in history, Japan has won three: 2006, 2009, and 2023. Dominican Republic, which is +350 to win this year’s WBC, is a former champion from 2013.
Outside of the three teams with a WBC title, no other country is listed better than 14/1 to win it all via BetMGM’s latest betting lines.
Past Champions in WBC History
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Japan |
| 2017 | USA |
| 2013 | Dominican Republic |
| 2009 | Japan |
| 2006 | Japan |
When Does the 2026 World Baseball Classic Start?
Pool play for the 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin on March 5.
When is the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship?
The championship game for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 17 at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Explaining the WBC Format in 2026
This year’s World Baseball Classic features a 20-team field divided into four pools of five teams. The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals in Houston and Miami.
The semifinals and finals will be held in Miami.
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