Top Two American Teams in 2026 WBC to Qualify for LA 2028 Olympics
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will award two spots for national teams from the Americas to the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking the return of hardball to the Olympic event after its absence in Paris 2024.

Meanwhile, the United States baseball and softball teams will automatically qualify for the upcoming Games as the host nation, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced this Monday.

"By combining elite world events with clear continental pathways, we ensure the best baseball and softball teams from all regions have a clear opportunity to qualify for LA28," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, quoted in a statement.

Olympic Tournament Composition and MLB Participation
The Olympic competition will consist of six countries, including the United States. Major League Baseball (MLB) hopes its players will be able to participate in the tournament, although their presence depends on an agreement with the players' association.

The event, to be held at Dodger Stadium, coincides with the MLB All-Star Game, which in the past has affected the presence of MLB players in the Olympics.

Details of the 2026 World Baseball Classic
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be held from March 5 to 17 in the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico, with the participation of twenty countries.

Juan Soto (Dominican Republic), Edwin Díaz (Puerto Rico), and Ronald Acuña Jr. (Venezuela) are some of the Major League stars who have confirmed their participation in the competition.

According to the WBSC, which stated it has approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the two best-placed American teams at the end of the tournament will secure tickets to Los Angeles 2028.

Other Olympic Qualification Paths
The 2027 Premier12 tournament will award one spot to an Asian team and another to a team from Oceania or Europe.

The remaining spot will be allocated through an event featuring six countries from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania, to be held no later than March 2028.

For the Olympic softball tournament, also absent in Paris 2024, the top-ranked country in the 2027 Women's World Cup will qualify. Three other nations will qualify through continental qualifiers, and one more through a final tournament to be played no later than March 2028.