The followers of the MLB This preseason they will have a couple of new features on the team’s calendar. Spring Training. For the first time they will see interleague matches between Cactus and Grapefruit League squads, but there will also be special matches.
Because 2026 is a year of World Baseball Classicthe official calendar includes clashes between Major League teams and national teams that will take part in the event as part of groups A, B and D, which are based in San Juan de Puerto Rico, Houston and Miami. All of these meetings, 28 in total, are scheduled for March 3 and 4. These three keys will begin the Classic dispute on March 6 at Hiram Bithorn, Daikin Park and loanDepot Park, respectively.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (kill us). Robinson Cano. Marcus Stroman. Shohei Ohtani.
Legends of the World Baseball Classic 😤 pic.twitter.com/UDFEsKbl7m
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) January 9, 2026
In Arizona, for example, you will see the powerful United States team, full of stars led by the captain of New York YankeesAaron Judge, and top favorite to be champion in this edition of the competition, run into the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies squads.
It will also be possible to see in action the teams of Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico, who have in their ranks recognized players in the Major Leagues such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Salvador Pérez, Francisco Lindor, Nolan Arenado and Randy Arozarena, among others. The three are among the candidates to advance to the last stages of the Classic.
However, there is a big absence in this program of exhibition matches with national teams. The Dominican Republic squad is not there, which has already confirmed Sandy Alcántara, Freddy Peralta, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Ketel Marte, Manny Machado and José Ramírez. Fernando Tatís Jr. recently stated that his participation is “90%” safe. The Dominicans will not play these Spring Training duels in the fields of Florida and Arizona.
Below is the complete schedule of exhibition games for national teams against MLB teams:
|
Date |
Game |
Time |
Site |
|---|---|---|---|
|
March 3 |
México @ Diamondbacks |
1:10 PM |
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick |
|
March 3 |
United States @ Giants |
1:05 PM |
Scottsdale Stadium |
|
March 3 |
Italia @ Cubs |
1:05 PM |
Sloan Park |
|
March 3 |
Great Britain @ Brewers |
1:10 PM |
American Family Fields of Phoenix |
|
March 3 |
Cuba @ Royals |
1:05 PM |
Surprise Stadium |
|
March 3 |
Brasil @ Athletics |
1:05 PM |
Hohokam Stadium |
|
March 3 |
Puerto Rico @Red Sox |
6:05 PM |
Lee Health Sports Complex |
|
March 3 |
Nicaragua @Mets |
1:10 PM |
Clover Park |
|
March 3 |
Israel @Marlins |
1:10 PM |
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium |
|
March 3 |
Venezuela @Astros |
6:05 PM |
CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches |
|
March 3 |
Canadá @Blue Jays |
1:07 PM |
TD Ballpark |
|
March 3 |
Panama @Yankees |
1:05 PM |
George M. Steinbrenner Field |
|
March 3 |
Colombia @Pirates |
1:05 PM |
LECOM Park |
|
March 3 |
Netherlands @Orioles |
1:05 PM |
Ed Smith Stadium |
|
March 4 |
United States @ Rockies |
1:10 PM |
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick |
|
March 4 |
México @ Dodgers |
1:05 PM |
Camelback Ranch-Glendale |
|
March 4 |
Great Britain @ Parents |
1:10 PM |
Peoria Sports Complex |
|
March 4 |
Cuba @ Reds |
1:05 PM |
Goodyear Ballpark |
|
March 4 |
Italia @ Angels |
1:10 PM |
Tempe Diablo Stadium |
|
March 4 |
Brazil @ Rangers |
1:05 PM |
Surprise Stadium |
|
March 4 |
Netherlands @Rays |
1:05 PM |
Charlotte Sports Park |
|
March 4 |
Israel @Mets |
1:10 PM |
Clover Park |
|
March 4 |
Venezuela @Nationals |
6:05 PM |
CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches |
|
March 4 |
Puerto Rico @Twins |
1:05 PM |
Lee Health Sports Complex |
|
March 4 |
Panama @Tigers |
1:05 PM |
Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium |
|
March 4 |
Colombia @ Braves |
1:05 PM |
CoolToday Park |
|
March 4 |
Canada @Phillies |
1:05 PM |
BayCare Ballpark |
|
March 4 |
Nicaragua @ Cardinals |
1:05 PM |
Roger Dean Stadium |
Why doesn’t the Dominican Republic appear on the calendar?
Fans were surprised not to see the Dominican Republic team in the Spring Training exhibition games schedule.
The Dominican team, which has MLB superstars on its roster and will be led by Albert Pujols. He preferred to have his preparation games for the World Classic at home. They will host the Detroit Tigers at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium in Santo Domingo on March 3 and 4.
The Dominican Republic will play two pre-WBC exhibition games against the Detroit Tigers in front of their home fans.
When: March 3-4
Where: Santo Domingo, DR 🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/j68oeqspxA— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) December 8, 2025
The MLB portal highlights: “This event will mark the first time in history that the Dominican national team hosts a major league club for exhibition games in the country.” The manager of the Dominican team, Nelson Cruz, spoke of a tribute to the victims of the Jet Set tragedy and of making a donation to the Red Cross.