Taiwanese Fans Bring Passion to World Baseball Classic Despite Team’s Mixed Results

Tokyo (AFP) – Despite facing challenges on the field, Taiwan’s fans have made a significant impact at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, filling the Tokyo Dome with a vibrant display of support. Tens of thousands of fans, adorned in the team’s blue, have enthusiastically cheered for their team, creating a lively atmosphere at each game.

Taiwanese supporters have been a prominent presence at all three of their games so far, even at times appearing to overwhelm the home crowd during their match against Japan on Friday. Their enthusiastic displays include blowing trumpets, chanting for their favorite players, and enjoying performances from a dedicated troupe of cheerleaders.

The team secured their first win of the tournament on Saturday, defeating the Czech Republic 14-0. This victory came after losses to Australia (3-0) and Japan (13-0), the latter ending early due to the mercy rule. Japan’s dominant performance, fueled by Shohei Ohtani’s grand slam, highlighted the competitive nature of the tournament.

Mark Ling, a 46-year-old dentist who attended two of Taiwan’s games, told AFP that baseball is immensely popular on the island. “It was very difficult to buy any tickets for this series,” he said, following a home run against the Czech Republic. “It’s what I expected, that everyone would arrive to Tokyo and cheer for the Taiwan team. I’m not surprised.”

Taiwan has fond memories of the Tokyo Dome, having won their first international title at the Premier12 in November 2024, defeating Japan in the final. This victory sparked widespread celebrations in Taiwan, with F-16 fighter jets escorting the team upon their return and a lavish parade held in Taipei.

Baseball was introduced to Taiwan under Japanese rule in the late 19th century and is now considered the national sport. The island has produced notable players, including Sadaharu Oh, an ethnic Taiwanese who was born in Tokyo and holds the world record for career home runs.

US-born Stuart Fairchild of the Cleveland Guardians, whose mother was born in Taiwan, acknowledged the incredible support from the fans. “The fans have been incredible, they’ve travelled in droves,” he said. “Even though the first couple of games didn’t go the way we wanted to, they still came today and have shown us nothing but support.”

Despite being ranked number two in the world going into the tournament, Taiwan faced tough competition. After the loss to Japan, they kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive with their win over the Czech Republic, which also ended early under the mercy rule.

Ling emphasized the excitement of the World Baseball Classic, stating, “We love to see the competition between the teams. Winning or losing is maybe not the most crucial thing we care about.”