The only-elimination knockout stage has arrived on the 2026 World Baseball Basic. Eight groups are within the bracket, together with Group USA, which backed into the quarterfinals because of Italy’s win over Mexico on Wednesday. Japan, the 2023 WBC champion, and the Dominican Republic, arguably the very best crew this yr, each enter the knockout stage unbeaten. Italy additionally went 4-0 in pool play, together with a stunning win over the US earlier this week.
Right here is the 2026 WBC bracket:
World Baseball Basic/MLB
Quarterfinal video games can be performed Friday and Saturday at Daikin Park (Houston) and loanDepot Park (Miami), then the semifinals can be performed Sunday and Monday in Miami. The Championship Sport is scheduled for Tuesday in Miami, the identical place Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to finish the 2023 WBC.
Beginning pitchers for this Friday’s and Saturday’s quarterfinal video games embrace Seth Lugo (Puerto Rico), Hyun-Jin Ryu (Korea), Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic), Ranger Suárez (Venezuela), Logan Webb (USA), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan). The pitch restrict is now 80 pitches, so these starters will have the ability to present some actual size.
Group USA is closely favored to beat Canada in Friday’s quarterfinal matchup (the People have -900 odds to win on DraftKings). And the People are favored (+130) to win the entire competitors, even after the slip-up vs. Italy.
Do our consultants agree? Right here now are the CBS Sports activities MLB knowledgeable picks for the remainder of the 2026 WBC.
WBC quarterfinal picks
WBC semifinal picks
WBC championship sport picks
Skilled explanations
Axisa: I picked the Dominican Republic to win earlier than the WBC began, and the crew has given me no purpose to doubt. The lineup is deep and highly effective, the rotation is the very best the D.R. has ever had within the WBC, and the bullpen is one 100-mph reliever after one other. I am driving Italy because the Cinderella story based mostly purely on vibes. It is a very enjoyable crew, and we’re within the single-elimination section of the WBC now. Something can occur in a single sport. Italy beat USA and Mexico. Why cannot the Italians get by the Japan/Venezuela aspect of the bracket? Finally, the Dominican Republic is simply too good for me to choose in opposition to. I might really feel higher about Group USA’s probabilities if the People hadn’t proven a bent to sleepwalk by 5-6 innings at a time.
Feldman: I actually wished to get Italy all the best way to the championship sport, however I am simply not offered sufficient on the pitching, regardless of how beaned up Vinnie Pasquantino will get (please preserve a health care provider available if this goes any additional). The Dominican Republic has been my choose because the get-go. The D.R. is simply too good. The pitching is nice. The hitting is even higher. I genuinely do not know the way you beat this crew.
McWilliams: Group USA has a loaded roster, however some vanity and indifference that was on show in opposition to Italy can be uncovered by the D.R. within the semis. The Dominican Republic has the pitching it has lacked in latest WBCs and an offense that I imagine is perhaps the very best within the historical past of the match. Finally, this would be the Dominicans’ match to lose. That is their time.
Perry: When it comes to star energy and excellence at a person stage, the Dominican Republic roster compares favorably to Group USA, particularly within the lineup. Everyone knows it is a idiot’s errand to foretell the outcomes of single video games in a sport like baseball, however the D.R. has championship expertise and definitely championship vibes. Besting Korea, the US, and Japan within the knockout levels is a titan’s burden, however the Dominican roster is able to it. It says right here the baseball hotbed will quickly hoist its second WBC trophy.
Snyder: We’re right into a one-and-done match in baseball, which signifies that completely nothing would shock. It is a whole guessing sport. For some purpose, I am getting a intestine feeling that Japan goes to be taken down. Venezuela has the expertise to do it within the quarterfinals. I am going with my coronary heart in choosing Group USA. However the group stays probably the most proficient within the discipline and 5 unhealthy innings in opposition to Italy — which steamrolled an excellent Mexico crew — does not change that.
