[Photo &] 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Quarterfinal Matchup Korea Faces Dominican Republic Valued at 7 Times More, Clash in Miami for WBC Quarterfinals

[2026 WBC Quarterfinal Matchup Confirmed]
The Korean Baseball Team will face the championship contender Dominican Republic, which is filled with major league stars, in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinals. This matchup, often referred to as the David vs. Goliath battle, has been set, with the winner of this game going on to face the winner of the match between Italy (Group B 1st place) and Puerto Rico (Group A 2nd place) in the semifinals.

On the opposite side of the bracket, the winner of the match between long-time rivals Japan (Group C 1st place) and Venezuela (Group D 2nd place) will compete for a ticket to the finals against the winner of the match between Canada (Group A 1st place) and the United States (Group B 2nd place).

The biggest point of interest in this quarterfinal is the overwhelming difference in player valuations between the two teams. The total salary of the 30 players on the final roster of the Korean team is approximately 61.65 billion won, while the total salary of the 28 players on the Dominican Republic team, composed of dazzling major league stars, amounts to a staggering 287.17 million dollars (approximately 424.9 billion won). The Korean team is facing a giant with a valuation difference of about 7 times.

[Beyond the 'Miracle of Tokyo' to Miami]
Previously, the Korean team achieved the remarkable feat of advancing to the quarterfinals by dramatically defeating the formidable opponent Australia in the final group stage match. The sight of the players gathering on the field in celebration showcased their strong determination and unity, promising not to back down against any strong team.

[Rushing Towards the Battlefield 'Miami']
Now, the focus shifts to the battleground in the United States, Miami. The world of sports is watching closely to see if the Korean baseball team can overcome the overwhelming disparity in strength and create a major upset by advancing to the semifinals.