World Baseball Classic 2026 Day 5: Korea take lead over Australia into eighth

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is down to Day 5 of group play.

World No. 11 Australia took the field against No. 4 Korea to open the day at the Tokyo Dome.

Korea (1-2) is facing elimination, but a win would force a 2-2 three-way tie with Australia and Chinese Taipei, making the Team Quality Balance (TQB) decide which team follows Japan in the quarterfinals.

Six more games are scheduled for Day 5.

In Group A, Colombia will face Panama at 17:00 GMT at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan in what most likely will turn out as a one-game playoff for a spot in the 2030 World Baseball Classic.

No. 12 Dominican Republic will play No. 21 Israel at 17:00 GMT in Group D at loanDepot Park in Miami. With a win, the Dominicans will advance to the quarterfinals.

In Group B, No. 11 Brazil will take on No. 19 Great Britain at 18:00 GMT, with a spot in the 2030 World Baseball Classic up for grabs. The loser will have to play the qualifiers.

No. 10 Cuba will play No. 7 Puerto Rico at midnight GMT on Tuesday, March 10, at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals as Group A's first-place finisher.

No. 4 Venezuela will face No. 16 Nicaragua at midnight GMT at loanDepot Park in Miami. A win would bring Venezuela to the quarterfinals.

No. 6 Mexico and No. 3 USA will close the day and Group B action at Daikin Park in Houston. The winner will earn a berth in the quarterfinals.

• Day 1 recap
• Day 2 recap
• Day 3 recap
• Day 4 recap

World Baseball Classic Day 5

GROUP C GAMES

Korea @ Australia

Australia handed the ball to Lachlan Wells, a left-hander who pitched as high as Double-A in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Left-hander Yu Young Son, an 11-game winner for the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Association (KBO) league in 2025, took the mound for Korea.

WBSC Premier12 star Bo Gyeong Moon put Korea on the scoreboard in the top of the second. With Hyun Min Ahn at first, Korea's designated hitter drove a slider by Wells over the wall in right-centre for a two-run homer.

Korea increased their lead in the top of the third when Jahmai Jones and Jung Ho Lee welcomed reliever Coen Wynne with back-to-back doubles.

Right-hander Mitch Neunborn took over the Aussie mound. He got the first out on strikes, before allowing an RBI double to Bo Gyeong Moon.

WBSC Premier12 alum Robbie Glendenning homered off right-hander Hyeong Jun So in the bottom of the fifth to put Australia on the board.

With Korea leading 6-1, Australia manufactured a run in the bottom of the eighth. Taek Yeon Kim, the sixth Korean pitcher, walked Robbie Perkins to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Australia bunted pinch runner Max Durrington to second, and WBSC Youth Baseball World Cups veteran and Premier12 alum Travis Bazzana scored with a single. Byeon Hyeon Jo took the mound for Korea with one out.

Looking ahead to Day 6

Day 6 of the VI World Baseball Classic will open on Tuesday, March 10, at 10:00 GMT in Tokyo when No. 1 Japan takes over No. 14 Czechia in a Dome's fan favourite that won't impact on the group's outcome, since Japan will advance to the quarterfinals as the No.1 seed and Czechia will have to qualify for the 2030 World Baseball Classic no matter the score.

In Group D No. 9 Netherlands will face No. 21 Israel

In Group A No. 20 Canada will play No. 7 Puerto Rico

Both games will start at midnight GMT.

No. 3 USA and No. 14 Italy will close the day at Houston's Daikin Park at 2:00 GMT on Wednesday, March 11.

The Standings

LA 2028 Qualification Process

The 2026 World Baseball Classic also forms part of the qualification pathway to LA28. The baseball tournament at the Olympic Games will feature six teams, and while USA is already qualified as host, the two highest-placed teams from the Americas at the World Baseball Classic will also earn quota places at the Olympic tournament.

Cover Photo: WBCI/MLB Photos by Getty Images