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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Minute Maid Park has been selected as one of the venues for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, bringing the event to Houston for the first time. The announcement, made on Wednesday, places Houston alongside other host sites including LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Tokyo Dome in Japan, and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“We are excited and honored to be hosting World Baseball Classic matchups for the first time,” said Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane. “Houston is a global city with the best baseball fans, and we are proud to welcome fans from across the globe to watch international competition at Minute Maid Park.”
In March 2026, Houston will host group stage games and a quarterfinal in the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic.
This addition continues Houston’s trend of hosting major sporting events. The city recently hosted the 2024 College Football Playoff Championship game and the Men’s Final Four in 2023.