What's happening?
Houston submitted a bid to host the World Baseball Classic in January, and Janis Burke, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority CEO, had high hopes that the city would be chosen to host another international event in 2026.
Community Impact sat down with Burke in an April Q&A to ask about upcoming sporting events, which included the city's bid for the WBC.
"I feel good about it because I always feel good about every bid," she said. "Can you imagine that in the spring, and then the World Cup in the summer? It'll be our international year for sure."
Houston was selected to host seven World Cup matches at NRG Stadium in June 2026. Now, the city will host another international event in the same year.
The World Baseball Classic, which is scheduled for March, will be played at Minute Maid Park for the first time in the event's history. According to the MLB, the Houston Astros ballpark will become the ninth Major League ballpark to host the classic.
Houston is one of four cities that is playing host alongside Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Miami, Florida.
What they are saying
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Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he is excited about Houston hosting the World Baseball Classic.
"Having the teams and visitors in town will not just showcase Houston’s passion for the sport but also celebrate the diverse cultures from around the globe that unite under one love for the game,” he said. “As the nation’s most diverse city, home to a truly global community, we are eager to demonstrate the unique experience Houston offers our domestic and international visitors. I appreciate all the people and organizations that came together to secure this event for Houston.”
The Houston Astros, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and Houston First Corporation partnered throughout the selection process to bid for the tournament.
Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First, said Houston has proven time and again that there is no better place to hold a world-class event.
"We are excited to help host the World Baseball Classic alongside the Houston Astros and our destination partners, showcasing once again the power of together that drives Houston," he said.
Stay tuned
According to the MLB, the last WBC, which took place in 2023, broke several tournament records, including an attendance record of 1.3 million. The only United States host city in 2023, Miami, saw an average attendance of nearly 30,000 at each round.
HCHSA Chair Kent Friedman said hosting the World Baseball Classic will have an incredible impact on the city of Houston and Harris County.
"We are thrilled for Houston to have been chosen to host the World Baseball Classic," he said. "When coupled with the FIFA World Cup, 2026 will demonstrate once again why Houston is one of the great sports cities not just in the U.S. but in the world."
More information the schedule will be released at www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic.
