Alden GonzalezCloseAlden GonzalezESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on X, Jeff Passan, Jorge CastilloCloseJorge CastilloESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X, David SchoenfieldCloseDavid SchoenfieldESPN Senior WriterCovers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995Multiple AuthorsMar 13, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
Can Canada shock Team USA in WBC? (0:46)Jeff Passan discusses Canada’s approach for tonight’s game against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on “The Pat McAfee Show.” (0:46)
Pool play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic is officially over, and we’re headed to the quarterfinals.
The opening round of the tournament was not without excitement — or surprises. Team USA, the favorite to win it all with a deep, star-studded lineup, almost didn’t advance to the quarterfinals after a loss to Italy left its fate to be decided by the final matchup between Italy and Mexico. Italy won to go undefeated in pool play — allowing the U.S. to move on — while Mexico was eliminated.
Canada also surprised in the early games, going 3-1 and beating Puerto Rico to win Pool A and advance to its first quarterfinals since the tournament’s inception in 2006.
Can Canada shock Team USA in WBC? (0:46)Jeff Passan discusses Canada’s approach for tonight’s game against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on “The Pat McAfee Show.” (0:46)
Jeff Passan discusses Canada’s approach for tonight’s game against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic on “The Pat McAfee Show.” (0:46)
CloseAlden GonzalezESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on X
CloseJorge CastilloESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X
CloseDavid SchoenfieldESPN Senior WriterCovers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995
Alden GonzalezCloseAlden GonzalezESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on X, Jeff Passan, Jorge CastilloCloseJorge CastilloESPN Staff WriterESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X, David SchoenfieldCloseDavid SchoenfieldESPN Senior WriterCovers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995Multiple Authors
Next opponent: Dominican Republic (Fri. at 6:30 p.m. ET)