"If you win Australia, you'll be eliminated from Korea." Fateful "Japan-Australia match" will be watched by Korea for the first time in 60 years. [2026 WBC]

*This content was translated by AI.

Emperor Naruhito (66) will watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Japan-Australia match.

The Japanese national baseball team, led by manager Hirokard Ibata, will play Group C against Australia in the first round of the 2026 WBC finals at Tokyo Dome, Japan, at 7 p.m. on the 8th. Japan, which has already defeated Taiwan and South Korea in a row, confirmed the quarterfinals with two wins and no losses. On the other hand, Australia, which has two wins and no losses, wants to win this match to determine the quarterfinals.

It is also an important match for the Korean national team. South Korea lost 4-5 in the 10th inning of extra time against Taiwan, falling to fourth place in the group with 1-2 losses. If Australia catches Japan on this day, Australia and Japan, ranked first and second, will be confirmed, and South Korea will be eliminated regardless of the game on the 9th.

It was difficult to draw a scenario in which Japan, the best player, lost to Australia, but the Japanese side also had strong motivation. Japanese media, including Sports Hochi, said, "The Emperor visits Tokyo Dome for the first time in 60 years and watches the game."

This is the third time the Emperor has watched a professional baseball game in person. It has been 60 years since Emperor Hirohito and his wife watched the Yomiuri Giants-Hanshin Tigers match in 1959 and the Japanese national team-LA Dodgers match in 1966. This is the first time under Emperor Naruhito, who took the throne in 2019.

The Japanese national team also seems to have a unique determination. Ahead of the match against Australia, Yoshida Masataka (Boston Red Sox) said, "I will play desperately to make it a wonderful day as one of the Japanese people. I want to give everyone a victory," he said.

As a match that the Japanese king is watching, the Japanese national team set up its best lineup with Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Seiya Suzuki (middle fielder), Kensuke Kondo (right fielder), Munetaka Murakami (first baseman), Kazuma Okamoto (third baseman), Masataka Yoshida (left fielder), Shugo Maki (second baseman), Sosuke Genda (striker) and Kenya Wakatsuki (catcher). The starting pitcher was Tomoyuki Sugano (Colorado Rockies), a former Yomiuri Giants ace.

With Japan's chances of winning even higher, South Korea should make all-out efforts to play against Australia at 7 p.m. on the 9th.

If the wins and losses are the same, the ranking of the first round of the WBC will be determined in the order of the minimum number of runs per defensive inning and the minimum number of earned runs in games between equal teams. Even if Australia loses on the day, Australia still has an advantage with 2-1 and Taiwan with 2 wins and 2 losses, and South Korea must prevent Australia by less than two points and win by more than five points.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.