The reigning WBC champion continues its title defense in tonight’s quarterfinals.
Japan, a three-time World Baseball Classic champion, is entering today’s matchup undefeated with a 4-0 record. Their wins include games against Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. Led by global superstar Shohei Ohtani, their roster combines MLB stars with top talents from Nippon Professional Baseball.
On the other side, Venezuela boasts a formidable batting lineup, anchored by Ronald Acuña Jr. Their roster is rich with Major League hitters who can turn the tide of a game with just one swing. Having finished second in Pool D, they advanced through the group stage with three wins and one loss, the latter being against Pool D winner Dominican Republic.
- Who: Japan vs. Venezuela (quarterfinals)
- When: March 14th at 9 PM Eastern Time
- Where: Lawn Depot Park (Miami, Florida)
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming: Available on DIRECTV (trial accessible)
The victor of tonight’s decisive match will move on to the semifinals against the winner of the Puerto Rico vs. Italy game.
Japan vs Venezuela WBC 2026 start time
The quarterfinal matchup between Puerto Rico and Italy will also kick off at 3:00 PM ET today, March 14th.
How to watch Japan vs. Venezuela for free
If cable isn’t an option, live TV streaming services can help you catch the games without cost. Personally, I find that DIRECTV is a solid choice for watching live baseball—it offers a 5-day free trial, which includes FOX and FS1, where the rest of the WBC games will be streamed. Once the trial’s up, you have access to over 90 channels starting at $59.99 a month.
Sling TV is another budget-friendly option for streaming live TV, with choice plans beginning at $19.99 per month, which also includes FS1 and FOX.
Japan vs. Venezuela pitcher
For this game, Ranger Suarez is set to start for Venezuela, while Japan will send out Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both pitchers are gearing up for Game 2 of the World Baseball Classic.
Main dates for World Baseball Classic 2026
- QF 4: Japan vs. Venezuela – March 14, 9:00 PM ET (FOX)
- SF 1: Dominican Republic vs. United States – March 15, 8:00 PM ET (FS1)
- SF 2: QF3 Winner vs. QF4 Winner – March 16 at 8 PM ET (FS1)
- Championship – March 17 at 8 PM ET (FOX)
