Twenty national baseball teams will compete across four venues in three countries in pursuit of glory at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). The international tournament will take place from March 5 to 17, 2026, offering fans a chance to witness the global passion this sport inspires.
Japan enters as the defending champion after defeating the United States in the 2023 title game — the two nations that again stand as the heavy favorites to lift the trophy. The notable absence will be China, which was eliminated after losing all three of its qualifying games.
For those interested in wagering on the 2026 WBC, one platform allows you to place real money on the outcome in all 50 states. That platform is Kalshi, which blends traditional financial systems with innovative prediction markets.
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2026 World Baseball Classic Odds
Unsurprisingly, Team USA opens as the favorite, with a 36% chance to win it all. The 2017 champion boasts plenty of Major League Baseball talent, with Aaron Judge as captain, and will be looking to fine-tune its roster ahead of baseball’s Olympic return at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
If any national team can try to challenge USA, it’s Japan, listed second with 31% odds. The three-time WBC champion and defending titleholder is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and will once again be led by Shohei Ohtani, who is fresh off back-to-back World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dominican Republic, a perennial baseball powerhouse, ranks third with 17% odds. Winners of the 2013 WBC, the Dominican roster is stacked with star talent such as Juan Soto, Fernando Tatís Jr., Teoscar Hernández, José Ramírez, Julio Rodríguez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
A tier below is Venezuela (7%), whose best finish came in 2009 with a third-place result. Now, the team’s hopes rest on players like Miguel Rojas — a World Series hero after his solo home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 — along with Ronald Acuña Jr. and José Altuve.
Mexico (6%), Korea (5%), Cuba (3%), and Puerto Rico (1%) round out the list of long shots. The remaining national teams have less than a 1% chance, with a limited history of deep runs in international competition.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be played in Miami, Houston, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tokyo (Japan). Both semifinals (March 15–16) and the championship game (March 17) will take place at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.
What is Kalshi?
Different than a traditional sportsbook and available in all 50 states, Kalshi allows users to make predictions across several unique markets, including sports, entertainment, elections and even weather.
Kalshi operates on a contract-based system where users buy "contracts" (priced between 1–99 cents) based on whether they believe a specific event will happen. The price of each contract fluctuates in real time based on market sentiment and like the stock market, traders can sell positions early to lock in profits (or minimize losses).
