2026 World Baseball Classic: USA Crushes Brazil 15-5, Ohtani Homers Twice as Japan Goes 2-0, USA vs Great Britain Tip-Off Tonight at 8 PM ET
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is delivering fireworks on every continent. Team USA opened its WBC campaign with a dominant 15-5 stomping of Brazil Friday night at Daikin Park in Houston, while defending champion Japan improved to 2-0 Saturday morning after Shohei Ohtani homered twice in an 8-6 thriller over South Korea. Team USA faces Great Britain tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox. Here is everything you need to know.
USA vs Brazil Final Score: Team USA Wins 15-5 in WBC Opener
Team USA won its WBC opener over Brazil 15-5 at Daikin Park in Houston on Friday night, March 6. Aaron Judge crushed a two-run home run to left-center field — his very first WBC at-bat — after working a 3-0 count, immediately setting the tone for the game. Brice Turang delivered a bases-clearing two-run double in the fifth inning, scoring Cal Raleigh, Roman Anthony, and Byron Buxton off the left-field wall to break the game open.
The United States needed a while to get going before eventually routing Brazil 15-5. The Americans have taken home one WBC title, back in 2017, and are looking for a second with a loaded roster that includes 22 MLB All-Stars — the most of any roster in the tournament.
Shohei Ohtani Homers Again: Japan 8, South Korea 6 — Defending Champions Stay Perfect
Saturday's marquee early game delivered as advertised. Japan beat South Korea 8-6 to improve to 2-0, with Shohei Ohtani homering against South Korea early Saturday morning at the Tokyo Dome — his second homer in as many games in the tournament. Japan hit four home runs total, including two from Seiya Suzuki and another from Ohtani.
Japan flexed its muscle with three homers in the third inning alone. After Ohtani's blast, Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida went back to back to give Japan a 5-3 lead. South Korea tied it at 5 on a two-run blast from Hyeseong Kim in the fourth before Japan pulled away late. Japan's defense was equally impressive, with center fielder Ukyo Shuto making a jaw-dropping ninth-inning catch to seal the win.
Full Friday WBC Scores: Every Result From March 6
All results from Friday, March 6: Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0. Cuba 3, Panama 1. Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2. Mexico 8, Great Britain 2. Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0. Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3. USA 15, Brazil 5. Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0.
The Dominican Republic's 12-3 demolition of Nicaragua was powered by a Julio Rodriguez home run and two RBI singles from Oneil Cruz. Venezuela's win over the Netherlands confirmed they are among the tournament's dark horse contenders. Australia is the early surprise story of Pool C, sitting at 2-0 after wins over Chinese Taipei and Czechia. Curtis Mead hit a three-run third-inning home run as Australia improved to 2-0. With the loss, Czechia is now in danger of finishing fifth and having to go through qualifiers to return for the 2029 WBC.
Today's Full Saturday WBC Schedule: All Games and Channels
Saturday, March 7 complete schedule: Japan 8, South Korea 6 (final, FS1). Canada vs. Colombia at 11:00 a.m. ET on FS2. Netherlands vs. Nicaragua at noon ET on Tubi. Italy vs. Brazil at 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports App only. Puerto Rico vs. Panama at 6:00 p.m. ET on FS1. Venezuela vs. Israel at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS2. Great Britain vs. USA at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox. South Korea vs. Chinese Taipei at 10:00 p.m. ET on FS2.
USA vs Great Britain Tonight: What to Expect at 8 PM ET on Fox
Team USA's second WBC game comes against a Great Britain side that has already faced adversity. Mexico handed Great Britain an 8-2 loss in Friday's opener, with Jonathan Aranda delivering a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning. Britain's Harry Ford tied the game at 1 with a solo homer in the sixth, but Mexico's offense eventually overwhelmed the British pitching staff.
Team USA's rotation is headlined by Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, with manager Mark DeRosa deploying his All-Star lineup systematically through pool play to keep his biggest arms fresh for the knockout rounds. A second straight dominant Team USA WBC performance tonight would put the Americans in commanding position heading into the tougher Pool B tests against Mexico and Italy next week.
Complete 2026 WBC Schedule Ahead: Road to Miami on March 17
The full remaining Team USA WBC schedule in Pool B: Monday, March 9 — USA vs. Mexico at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox. Tuesday, March 10 — USA vs. Italy at 9:00 p.m. ET on FS1. Pool play runs through March 11, followed by the quarterfinals on March 13 and 14, semifinals on March 15 and 16, and the WBC championship final on Tuesday, March 17, all at loanDepot Park in Miami.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic features 20 teams split into four pools playing 47 total games across four host cities — Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami. All games broadcast on Fox, FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes, and Tubi, with streaming available through a Fox One subscription. Japan and Team USA are the early co-favorites — and a rematch of the iconic 2023 WBC final in Miami on March 17 is what everyone is already circling on their calendar.
