With the 2026 World Baseball Classic about to begin, it’s time for my preview of the tournament. We begin in non-alphabetical order, starting with Pool C, as it begins before the other pools.

About the Venue: The Tokyo Dome is the largest baseball stadium in the largest metropolitan area in the world and the go-to place for MLB events in Japan. Holding over 45 thousand fans for baseball, the air-supported dome is normally home to the Yomiuri Giants, the most successful team in Japanese baseball. The “Big Egg” has symmetrical dimensions (329 to the corners, 375 to the alleys, 400 to center) and has over the years also played host to concerts, boxing (including Mike Tyson‘s infamous defeat at the hands of Buster Douglas), professional wrestling, NFL exhibition games, and mixed martial arts. It is also the location of Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame.

About The Pool: This is somewhat similar to some of the previous Tokyo pools in the WBC, with Asian powers (Japan, Korea, and “Chinese Taipei”) placed together. Joining them are Australia and the Czech Republic. It would be a shock if the two teams to leave this round robin aren’t two of the three Asian teams, and it’d be especially shocking if one of those teams isn’t Japan, which is one of the overall tournament favorites and . Australia and the Czechs will likely be playing to avoid getting relegated to qualifying.

Go below the jump for the full preview.