FOX Sports is once again set to deliver one of baseball’s premier global events. The network will televise and stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in the United States, it was announced by World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI), which is jointly operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
FOX will air seven total games, highlighted by three Pool B matchups featuring Team USA, two Quarterfinal contests, and the Championship Game from Miami’s loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17. Additional games will appear on FS1, FS2, FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and the free streaming platform Tubi. A full broadcast schedule and platform assignments will be announced at a later date.
“The World Baseball Classic gives the best players around the world an opportunity to represent their countries on a global stage and embodies everything we love about the game – passion, pride, and elite talent – like nothing else,” said Bill Wanger, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Programming and Scheduling. “Following the tournament’s widespread excitement and unforgettable finish from 2023, we’re honored to once again deliver this premier event to fans across the country.”
Spanish-language coverage will once again be extensive, with FOX Deportes carrying 28 games, including all four Quarterfinals, both Semifinals, and the title game.
FOX first carried the World Baseball Classic in 2023, where the Championship Game between the United States and Japan drew an average of 5.2 million viewers nationally and peaked at 6.5 million during the dramatic ninth-inning showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. The moment has since been regarded as one of the most memorable at-bats in modern baseball history.
The partnership comes as FOX prepares for its 30th season of MLB coverage in 2026. The announcement was made live during FOX’s American League Division Series pregame show, with former WBC participants Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez on hand to share the news.
“FOX Sports has been a great partner to MLB for decades showcasing the skill of the players, storylines on and off the field, and intensity of the competition,” said MLB Deputy Commissioner, Business and Media Noah Garden. “While it’s known as America’s favorite pastime, baseball also is a global game. FOX Sports will help increase the event’s profile and capture the incredible result of when baseball competition meets national pride.”
MLB Players, Inc. President Evan Kaplan added that the partnership highlights the players’ commitment to international growth. “Since the World Baseball Classic’s inception in 2006, players have experienced a special sense of pride in representing their countries,” Kaplan said. “We are proud to partner with FOX Sports to amplify their incredible talent and passion.”
The 2026 tournament will mark the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic and will feature 20 teams across four host cities: Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami. The opening game will take place March 4, with Team Japan seeking to defend its 2023 championship.
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