National League East Team’s Ballpark Could Host WBC Title Game

The World Baseball Classic has its eyes set on where it will host the championship game in 2026. In the 2023 championship game, Japan defeated the United States in Miami with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout to secure the win. Miami drew more than 500,00 fans who attended the games at loanDepot Park. According to Craig Mish of The Miami Herald and multiple sources, loanDepot park is the heavy favorite to host the WBC championship game as well as potential other rounds.

WBC Final May Return to loanDepot park

In the 2023 edition, loanDepot park became the first venue to in WBC tournament history to host games in all three rounds. The first round took place March 11-15 by featuring Pool D, which included Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The North American quarterfinals, featuring the teams advancing from Pool C and D, took place on March 17-18, while the Semifinals and Finals of the WBC were played from March 19-21.

Two Teams Who Made Bids to Host the 2026 WBC

With less than two years to go until the next WBC, two teams made cases to be one of the hosting sites. The San Diego Padres and Houston Astros were both trying to make a pitch to have Petco Park or Minute Maid Park host the tournament in 2026. Padres insider Kevin Acee of The San Diego-Union Tribune reported the news during the offseason. To see Petco Park again host the tournament is ideal since the venue was used in the 2017 WBC. Petco Park remains as one of the nicest parks in the United States and deserves a chance to be seen on the global stage once again.

Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reported the interest in Houston to be a host site in 2026. The WBC had games in two U.S. cities and two international cities. Miami and Phoenix hosted games in the USA whereas Tokyo and Taichung hosted internationally. If Houston can get their hands on some games, it will be the second major sporting event the city will look to be involved with. Houston is one of 16 sites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Will Central Time Zone Teams Host It?

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, MLB could learn towards that possibility. Having the event in the Central Time Zone could be in favor, especially with ballparks who have retractable roofs. Both the Astros and Texas Rangers are two other candidates who could host it.

Since its debut in 2006, the WBC is in March. Players report back to their respective spring trainings following the conclusion of the tournament, or when their team is out.

“We have talked about timing until your head hurts,” said Commissioner Robert Manfred. “There’s just no perfect time. You can’t really do it after the playoffs because so many have [not been playing in a few weeks]. We have talked about something in the middle of the season. I think balance, although it’s not perfect, this is probably the right place for it.”