Clásico Mundial to Determine Two Spots for Americas in LA 2028 Baseball and Softball

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will determine the two spots for the Americas region in the baseball and softball tournaments at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The United States will have an automatic place, while the top two nations from the Americas will qualify through the World Baseball Classic.

Why it matters

Qualifying for the Olympic baseball and softball tournaments is a major achievement for national teams, as the sports are making a return to the Olympic program after being dropped following the 2008 Beijing Games. The World Baseball Classic provides a high-profile stage for teams to compete for these coveted Olympic spots.

The details

The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament held every four years, featuring national teams from around the world. The 2026 edition of the tournament will serve as the qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the top two finishers from the Americas region earning spots in the Olympic baseball and softball competitions.

• The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place in early 2026.
• The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are scheduled for July-August 2028.

What’s next

The schedule and format for the 2026 World Baseball Classic have not yet been announced, but the tournament will likely take place in early 2026 to determine the two Americas qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.