Netflix Secures Exclusive Rights to Stream 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan

Netflix (NFLX) announced Monday it will serve as the exclusive broadcaster of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan, streaming all 47 games live and on demand for subscribers. The deal marks Netflix’s first live sports broadcast in Japan, though financial terms were not disclosed.

U.S. rights to the 2026 tournament have yet to be awarded. The previous edition, aired by Fox (FOX) in 2023, drew record audiences, including 5.2 million viewers for the championship game in which Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to secure Japan’s 3-2 victory over Team USA.

Major League Baseball deputy commissioner Noah Garden called the partnership a sign of the tournament’s growing global appeal and WBCI’s push to engage fans through digital platforms.

Baseball’s popularity in Japan has surged in recent years, fueled by stars like Ohtani, Shota Imanga (Chicago Cubs), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers).

The deal also underscores Netflix’s accelerating push into live sports, following last year’s Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight, a Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, and reports that it is a leading contender for the MLB Home Run Derby rights. Netflix has previously partnered with MLB on docuseries including The Turnaround (2024) and The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins March 5, with opening-round games in Tokyo, Houston, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Netflix shares gained 1% Monday and are up 37% year to date, after hitting an all-time high in late June.