By the end of the night, one Pool B team at the World Baseball Classic will have their unbeaten record snapped.
Both Team USA and Mexico are entering tonight’s matchup 2-0 in pool stage play, but either teams’ hopes of winning the pool wouldn’t be dashed with a loss tonight, as each team is scheduled to play the also-unbeaten Italy over the next two days. A win against Italy would go a long way in determining quarterfinal placement.
USA and Mexico’s baseball rivalry goes back four World Baseball Classics; in 2006, the United States beat Mexico in their first-ever matchup, but Mexico won the next three, including an 11-5 victory in the 2023 WBC.
2026 world baseball classic: what to know
- Who: Team USA vs. Team Mexico
- When: March 9, 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Daikin Park (Houston, Texas)
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Mexico is coming off a huge 16-0 win over Brazil — marking the third-largest margin of victory in any World Baseball Classic. The game ended with a walk-off home run that pulled Mexico past the 15-run threshold to end the game in the sixth inning.
In Team USA’s last game, Kyle Schwarber opened scoring with a two-run homer in the fifth and they went on to beat Great Britain, 9-1.
Tonight, Pittsburgh Pirates Cy Young winner Paul Skenes will be on the mound for Team USA.
World Baseball Classic: USA vs. Mexico start time
Tonight’s (March 9) World Baseball Classic matchup between USA and Mexico is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch USA vs. Mexico for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching baseball live for free — its five-day free trial includes FOX (plus most other channels you’ll need for the upcoming MLB season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $34.99/month and gain access to top live channels.
Sling TV is another affordable way to stream NFL games; its Select plan includes FOX and starts at $19.99/month.
World Baseball Classic 2026: Team USA roster
- Pitchers: David Bednar (Yankees), Matthew Boyd (Cubs), Garrett Cleavinger (Rays), Clay Holmes (Mets), Griffin Jax (Rays), Brad Keller (Phillies), Clayton Kershaw, Nolan McLean (Mets), Mason Miller (Padres), Joe Ryan (Twins), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Tarik Skubal (Tigers), Gabe Speier (Mariners), Michael Wacha (Royals), Logan Webb (Giants), Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox)
- Catchers: Cal Raleigh (Mariners), Will Smith (Dodgers)
- Infielders: Alex Bregman (Cubs), Ernie Clement (Blue Jays), Paul Goldschmidt (Yankees), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Gunnar Henderson (Orioles), Brice Turang (Brewers), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
- Outfielders: Roman Anthony (Red Sox), Byron Buxton (Twins), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Aaron Judge (Yankees)
- Designated hitter: Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
World Baseball Classic 2026: Team USA schedule
- USA (15) vs. Brazil (5), March 6
- USA (9) vs. Great Britain (1), March 7
- vs. Mexico, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
- vs. Italy, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET (FS1)
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.