The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins on March 5, with Japan's Samurai Japan aiming for a second straight title. While Netflix's exclusive streaming has raised concerns over accessibility, the team boasts a powerful lineup and pitching staff as a top favorite.
The sixth World Baseball Classic (WBC) kicks off on March 5, featuring 20 nations competing for the title. Japan, in Pool C at Tokyo Dome starting March 6, will face Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic, with the top two advancing to the quarterfinals in the United States.
Samurai Japan fields a 30-man roster with a record eight Major League Baseball players. Manager Hirokazu Ibata described the lineup as having “multiple cleanup hitters.” Key hitters include Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, who hit 55 home runs last season; Kazuma Okamoto of the Blue Jays; Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox; Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs; and Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers, a two-time batting champion. The pitching staff is led by ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, with relief usage critical under the WBC's pitch count limits.
Murakami, who put his Chicago White Sox spring training on hold, said in Osaka: “If there is a chance to represent my country, I wouldn’t turn it down. It’s something to be proud of. I had no hesitation at all.” He and Okamoto, from the Toronto Blue Jays camp, were key in Japan's 2023 victory, where Ohtani struck out U.S. captain Mike Trout to clinch the title.
The opener against Taiwan poses a challenge, as they shut out Japan in the Premier 12 final two years ago. Japan's Emperor will attend the March 8 game against Australia, the first such appearance by a reigning emperor since 1966.
A major concern is the lack of live TV broadcasts, with Netflix holding exclusive paid streaming rights. Sports bars are barred from commercial showings, as Netflix limits use to “personal, noncommercial” viewing. The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial suggests Japan consider a British-style “right to universal access” system for major sports events. Japan's professional baseball leagues open on March 27.
