Miami to host all three rounds of the 2026 World Baseball Classic
MIAMI, Florida—The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place at loanDepot Park, the home of the Miami Marlins, in Florida.
In a news release, it was disclosed that loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida became the first venue in the tournament’s history to host games in all three rounds of a World Baseball Classic in the same year in 2023. It will once again host contests in each of the three rounds in 2026, culminating with the Championship Game.
“Following a record-breaking World Baseball Classic in 2023, loanDepot Park showcased that it is the home of international baseball, and we are proud to once again bring the incredible tournament back to South Florida, the go-to destination for jewel global events,” said Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman.
“It is a tremendous honour to once again serve as host for all three rounds, including the prestigious final, and on behalf of our entire team and the greater Miami area I would like to express our gratitude to Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association for the recognition,” Sherman added.
The other venues for the sixth instalment of the Classic, which is scheduled for March 2026, are Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, in Texas; the Tokyo Dome in Japan; and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The overwhelming success and visibility of the World Baseball Classic last year was a vivid example of the impact of sport, destination promotion, multiculturism and our distinct reputation as a melting pot of it all,” said President and chief executive officer of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau David Whitaker.
He added: “To have the honour and opportunity of hosting it again speaks volumes to Miami’s continuing ascension as a capital gateway to sports and entertainment and the tourism economy it helps fuel.”
In 2023, the field of teams expanded to 20 for the first time in the tournament’s history. The 16 teams that finished within the top four of their respective first-round pools in the 2023 Classic are invited to play in 2026 and will be joined by four teams that will have advanced from the 2025 Qualifiers.
The World Baseball Classic is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) as the sport’s official National Team World Championship.
