The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over, but fans of international competition aren't out of options just yet. After a three-year hiatus, the World Baseball Classic is back and is set to begin with pool play on Wednesday.

In our house growing up, we’d always watch the Olympics,” third baseman Alex Bregman said. “To have the opportunity to possibly play in the Olympics and represent our country would be like a dream come true.

Aaron Judge and Team USA are the favourites to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but for the other teams in the Americas, a ticket to the 2028 Olympics is at stake. TSN Betting's Luke Bellus has circled one prop he likes in Pool D and a few longshots to win MVP.

Team USA is viewed as the favorite to win the WBC, which it last won in 2017. Japan is a three-time champion, winning most recently in 2023.

The United States will automatically qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic baseball and softball tournaments

Czechia faces Korea during group play of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Thursday at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.