World Baseball Classic announces 2026 hosts

The World Baseball Classic will return in 2026.

The Tokyo Dome in Japan and IoanDepot Park in Miami will return as host sites after being part of the 2023 edition, tournament organizers announced Thursday.

Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returns for the first time since 2013, while Houston's Minute Maid Park hosts for the first time to round out the four venues.

"We are excited and honored to be hosting World Baseball Classic matchups for the first time," Houston Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane said.

"Houston is a global city with the best baseball fans, and we are proud to welcome fans from across the globe to watch international competition at Minute Maid Park."

Sixteen teams have already qualified for the WBC - the top four teams from each of the four pools of the 2023 tournament - with the final four teams to be determined during qualifying rounds in 2025.

Once teams are determined, the first-round pools will be split across the four host sites.

Samurai Japan won their third gold medal during the 2023 event, with the United States finishing second and Mexico placing third.