World Baseball Classic To Be Moved From 2021 To 2023

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional information.

The 2021 World Baseball Classic is being postponed to 2023 pending board approval, sources confirmed to Baseball America on Monday afternoon.

ESPN’s Enrique Rojas previously reported the 2021 WBC would be canceled. League officials speaking to BA on the condition of anonymity characterized the change in the schedule as the event being moved rather than canceled.

The decision to move the WBC to 2023 is not yet official and is pending the approval of World Baseball Classic Inc., a joint board that includes MLB and MLB Players’ Association representatives.

The 2021 WBC was scheduled to include 20 teams, the largest field in event history, and take place from March 9-23 in Taiwan, Japan, Phoenix and Miami. The 16 teams that participated in the 2017 WBC had already received invitations to participate, including the defending champion USA.

The World Baseball Classic began in 2006. It has been played every four years since 2009.

The 2025 WBC remains scheduled as planned rather than pushed back to 2027.