Team USA Advances in World Baseball Classic, Will Face Canada in Quarterfinals

HOUSTON — Team USA will face Canada in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic after Italy secured a 9-1 victory against Mexico on Wednesday night, averting a potential early exit for the Americans. The U.S. Had their tournament fate hanging in the balance following a stunning 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday.

Italy’s Dominant Performance Secures USA’s Spot

Italy’s decisive win, fueled by a historic three-home run game from captain Vinnie Pasquantino and five shutout innings from ace Aaron Nola, guaranteed Team USA a place in the knockout stage. Pasquantino expressed his team’s awareness of the situation, stating, “You’re welcome, USA,” in a post-game interview with Fox Sports CBS Sports.

Quarterfinal Matchup: USA vs. Canada

The quarterfinal showdown between Team USA and Canada is scheduled for Friday in Houston, with a first pitch at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Fox and fubo CBS Sports.

Italy’s Path to the Quarterfinals

Italy continued its undefeated run through the tournament, setting up a quarterfinal match against Puerto Rico on Saturday night for a chance to advance to the semifinals. Italy’s roster features a blend of talented Italian-Americans from Major League Baseball and top prospects CBS Sports.

Pitching Matchups

San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb is expected to start for Team USA in the quarterfinals, while Canada plans to counter with Arizona right-hander Michael Soroka CBS Sports.

Tournament Schedule

The quarterfinals will be held on Friday and Saturday, followed by the semifinals on Sunday and Monday. The 2026 World Baseball Classic championship game is set for Tuesday. The semifinals and championship game will take place at Marlins Park in Miami CBS Sports.

Other Quarterfinalists

Joining Team USA and Canada in the knockout stage are Italy, Puerto Rico, Japan, Korea, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic CBS Sports.