Team USA Advances to World Baseball Classic Semifinals

Aaron Judge declares 'the boys are excited' ahead of matchup against Dominican Republic

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:54pm

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Aaron Judge and Team USA secured a spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals with a 5-3 victory over Canada. The Yankees captain contributed to the early lead before the American bullpen held off Canada's late comeback attempt. Judge acknowledged the challenge ahead, praising the Dominican Republic's deep lineup and strong pitching staff, while emphasizing that the American roster is ready for the opportunity.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is one of baseball's biggest international tournaments, and a semifinal matchup between the United States and the Dominican Republic will be a highly anticipated showdown between two of the sport's powerhouses. Judge's comments reflect a confident American team that is embracing the pressure and excitement of the moment.

The details

Team USA advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with a 5-3 victory over Canada on Friday night in Houston. Aaron Judge, the Yankees' 3-time AL MVP, finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and a double, helping the Americans build an early lead before the bullpen held off Canada's late comeback attempt. The win sets up a semifinal matchup on Sunday in Miami against a dominant Dominican Republic team that shut out Korea 10-0 in the quarterfinals.

  • Team USA defeated Canada on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • The semifinal matchup between the United States and Dominican Republic will take place on Sunday, March 16, 2026 in Miami.

The players

Aaron Judge

The 3-time AL MVP and captain of the New York Yankees, who contributed to Team USA's victory over Canada in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.

Team USA

The United States national baseball team, which has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican national baseball team, which will face Team USA in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic after a dominant 10-0 shutout win over Korea.

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What they’re saying

“The boys are excited.”

— Aaron Judge (Our Esquina)

What’s next

The winner of the semifinal matchup between Team USA and the Dominican Republic will advance to the championship game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The takeaway

Aaron Judge and Team USA are embracing the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of the World Baseball Classic semifinals, setting up an anticipated showdown against a dominant Dominican Republic squad. The American roster's confidence and excitement for the challenge ahead reflects their belief that they can compete with and defeat one of the tournament's most talented teams.