Japan Advances to WBC Quarterfinals, Faces Venezuela

Samurai Japan secured a perfect 4-0 record in Pool C of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, earning a quarterfinal berth against Venezuela. The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at loanDepot Park in Miami [1].

Dominant Performance in Tokyo Pool

Japan began their title defense with a dominant 13-0 mercy-rule victory over Chinese Taipei, highlighted by a grand slam from Shohei Ohtani – a latest WBC single-inning record [1]. They then faced close contests against Korea (8-6) and Australia (4-3) before finishing the pool play with a 9-0 win against Czechia [1].

Quarterfinal Matchup: Japan vs. Venezuela

Venezuela, the runner-up from Pool D, presents a significant challenge for Samurai Japan. The quarterfinal game will be played on March 14 at loanDepot Park in Miami [3]. Manager Hirokazu Ibata has emphasized a team-focused approach as they progress through the tournament [3].

Pitching Plans

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to start for Japan in the quarterfinals against Venezuela [2]. Yusei Kikuchi is anticipated to follow, and Tomoyuki Sugano is likely to start if Japan advances to the semifinals [2]. Tomoyuki Kanno is also fully prepared to start in the semi-finals, despite being the oldest player at 36 years old [1].

Team Arrival in Miami

Samurai Japan arrived in Miami around 3 AM local time on Wednesday, March 11, and held a voluntary practice session later that day [3]. Manager Ibata expressed satisfaction with the batting form of newcomers Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami [3].