The Dominican Republic’s quest for a second World Baseball Classic title received a significant boost this week as the Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOM) officially confirmed that superstar outfielder Juan Soto and infielder Manny Machado will represent the nation in the 2026 tournament.
Soto, a native of Santo Domingo and one of the most disciplined hitters in Major League Baseball, is expected to be a cornerstone of the “Plátano Power” lineup. His participation adds elite offensive production and veteran leadership to a roster that aims to reclaim dominance on the international stage.
This will be the third time Machado wears the Dominican uniform. He was not part of the 2013 edition won by the DR, but played in 2017 and 2023. As part of the Dream Team Alberto Pujols is putting together for the DR, Machado has high hopes to be on a 2026 winning team.
Soto and Machado have cleared the complex logistical challenge high-profile MLB talent have to deal with to play on their country teams. For many stars, the primary hurdle to participation is not their desire to play, but obtaining official clearance and insurance coverage from their respective MLB teams. Teams often weigh the pride of international competition against the risk of injury to their multi-million dollar assets.
The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place in March 2026, serving as the premier global showcase for the sport during the MLB Spring Training window.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to begin on Thursday, 5 March 2026, and will conclude with the championship game on March 17, 2026.
The tournament will be held across four international venues:
• Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome): Pool C begins on 5 March.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium): Pool A begins on 6 March.
• Houston, Texas (Daikin Park): Pool B begins on 6 March.
• Miami, Florida (loanDepot park): Pool D begins on 6 March.
In a warm up for the WBC, the Dominican Republic will play an exhibition game 3-4 March against the Detroit Tigers at the Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo as a warm up.
Then the DR will play in Pool D, that also includes Israel, Venezuela, Nicaragua and the Netherlands.
The first round at loanDepot park for Pool D will take place 6-11 March 2026. loanDepot park will host the quarterfinals, including the teams advancing from Pools C and D, 13-14 March, and the semifinals and final of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, 15-17 March.
Read more:
MLB
El Nacional
El Caribe
El Dia
3 February 2026