*This content was translated by AI.
Tokyo Dome, the holy site of Japanese baseball, was simply occupied by Taiwanese fans. The Taiwan-Australia showdown, which was the first schedule of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), was already filled with as much heat as the "Taipei Dome" by tens of thousands of away supporters from Taiwan. Even though it was not a match in Taiwan, Taiwanese fans accounted for the majority.
The first round of the 2026 WBC Group C match between Taiwan and Australia was held at Tokyo Dome in Japan at 12 p.m. on the 5th. Tens of thousands of visiting supporters from Taiwan have already painted the 43,000-seat Tokyo Dome blue, Taiwan's home uniform. They quickly turned the Tokyo Dome into a 'Taipei Dome' with their unique systematic cheering and explosive shouts.
On this day, Taiwanese fans completely dominated the atmosphere of the stadium with wave cheering and chanting in unison in each attack situation. Decibels continued to the extent that it was difficult for Australian pitchers to concentrate on pitching. The closed structure unique to Tokyo Dome traps and amplifies noise. The unilateral cheering of Taiwanese fans can't help but feel like a huge wall for the opposing team.
The balance of zero was broken by Australia's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Taiwanese fans' firepower did not subside. In particular, with two outs and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Taiwanese captain and outfielder Chen Je-jen were hit by a hit ball, prompting a storm of boos. In the match, Taiwan lost to Australia 0-3.
The problem is that Taiwan's fanatical cheering firepower will be reproduced in the match between Korea and Taiwan, which will be held at the same place at 12 p.m. on the 8th. It is a big variable for the Korean national team led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun. Mental management that can show its ability through the booing and shouting of Taiwanese fans, which will fill the Tokyo Dome, is expected to emerge as the key to victory or defeat. In November last year, they played two warm-up matches with the Japanese national team at Tokyo Dome, but Japanese and Taiwanese fans have somewhat different ways of cheering.
In the end, the ground task given to the national team ahead of the "Fate of Taiwan" on the 8th included maintaining composure. Looking at the results of the match on the 5th alone, Taiwan lost to Australia and South Korea caught the Czech Republic, but the importance of the match against Taiwan remains. Only by breaking through the huge noise wall that Taiwanese fans will create can they win a ticket to the quarterfinals. All eyes are on whether Ryu Ji-hyun will be able to quell the "blue wave" that will fill the Tokyo Dome and sound the victory.
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*This content was translated by AI.
