This game will be the second of the tournament, following Chinese Taipei's (Taiwan) match against Australia. The Tokyo Dome will host both games with the Czechs and the Koreans facing off from 7 pm local time on March 5th, 11 am CET, and 5 am Eastern time (New York) in the U.S.
Check out the full schedule and Pool matchups here.
South Korea
The Koreans head to the Japanese capital with a plethora of talent, hoping to make it to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2009, where they were beaten in the final by Japan.
It's been a barren run since then, exiting the tournament at the first round in each of the last three tournaments.
They come into this edition of the WBC with MLB-seasoned players and a host of homegrown stars ready for a breakout event.
Of those, hope rests on Hyeseong Kim. The LA Dodgers utility player had limited playing time last season in his first full MLB campaign, but still managed a batting average of .280, with 17 RBI and three home runs.
It was in the previous WBC where he showed what he could do, hitting for .500 during pool play, while getting on base in two-thirds of those at-bats.
After Tommy Edman made the move to play for South Korea three years ago, other players with Korean heritage have been brought into the fold for 2026.
Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones, Mariners pitcher Dane Dunning, Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien, and Astros infielder Shay Whitcomb all come in for their WBC debuts, to boost the heavily KBO-based roster.
Pitching was an issue for the Koreans in 2023, posting the fifth-worst earned run average (ERA) of all the teams in the tournament. But 38-year-old former Toronto Blue Jays and Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is back in the fold. The wily operator throws a mixture of breaking balls to keep his opponents off balance, and that could prove to be an edge during pool play.
Look out for Hyun-Min Ahn, also known as 'the muscle man'. The 22-year-old was imperious in 2025 with the KT Whizz, hitting 22 home runs and averaging .334, eventually going on to win the 2025 KBO Rookie of the Year Award. The right outfielder is a huge talent and provides some pop with the bat, which could help them challenge Japan for top spot in Pool C.
Jung Ho Lee (San Francisco Giants) is leading the way as team captain with South Korean stars Do Yeong Kim (2024 KBO MVP), Ja Wook Koo (four-time KBO Gold Glove winner), and pitcher Tae-in Won (2025 Best Battery Award for pitcher-catcher).
Czech Republic
If South Korea are stocked with ready-made professional talent, the same can't be said for the Czech Republic.
The Europeans, heading to Japan for pool play for the second-straight WBC, are the biggest underdogs in the group, with their mix of amateur players. They will be back looking to cause more upsets, like in 2023.
They shocked the world last time around by leading Japan into the third inning, only for the eventual winners to pull away and win the tie.
The pitcher on the mound that day was Ondrej Satoria. The part-time electrician made waves three years ago, striking out eventual MVP, Shohei Ohtani, in what the Japan Times called 'one shining moment' where David toppled Goliath.
They will have to do more of that this time around, as their amateur stars will need to improve on their one win from 2023 to have any chance of making it to the USA.
One new face in the Czech ranks is Terrin Vavra. Born in the States, but with heritage in the Czech Republic, the Baltimore Orioles second baseman has struggled for MLB time in the last two years, but he can use this tournament as a way of showing his worth.
He has spent much of the last three years in AAA - the highest level of minor league baseball - where he hit at .257 with two home runs in 2025. What he brings is that big league experience, something only he and left-handed pitcher Ryan Johnson bring to the outfit.
But, on the international stage, this team does have pedigree. In the 2025 European Baseball Championship, they finished third, beating Spain 9-2 to clinch the bronze medal, with many of the current squad taking part in that contest.
It will be a different atmosphere when they enter the Tokyo Dome on March 5th, but having been there before, they could once again show the 'Goliaths' who is boss.
After their opening clash, the pair will face Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia during Pool C action.