Taiwan’s national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic began its training Jan. 15 at the Taiwan Sports Training Center in Kaohsiung City with the strongest-ever government support.
According to the Ministry of Sports, the government has allocated NT$44 million (US$1.39 million) for related training and NT$16 million for information analysis. The Chinese Taipei Baseball League has also assembled a support team comprising more than 40 nutritionists, physical therapists, sports medicine specialists, sports psychologists and logistics personnel, the MOS added.
Equally important, the ministry offers full insurance coverage for the players so they can fully commit to training and deliver their best performance.
A total of 20 national teams are participating in the 2026 WBC. Team Taiwan will compete against opponents from Australia, Czechia, Japan and South Korea during the tournament’s Pool C March 5-8 at Tokyo Dome, after which the top two teams will advance to the next round in Miami.
First launched in 2006 and now in its sixth edition, the WBC is officially sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and organized in collaboration with the U.S. Major League Baseball. Taiwan hosted Pool A of the 2023 edition.
In the latest WBSC rankings, Taiwan is 2nd in the world, trailing only Japan. Team Taiwan defeated Japan to win the championship at the 2024 WBSC Premier12. (SFC-E)
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