MLB's Rob Manfred Eyes Plan for 'Regular' World Baseball Classic Schedule After 2026 Success

With obstacles such as labor negotiations and COVID delays, the World Baseball Classic has never featured a regular schedule with the event taking place in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2026.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is looking to change that.

"We're going to have a meeting on the WBC," he said during an appearance on Wednesday's Dan Patrick Show. "… I think the event was so successful this time that we need to talk about frequency and regularity of scheduling. … Given how popular it is, we need to get into a regular rotation.

"The most important reason for that is fans. But I'll give you another reason. Our broadcast partners were out in force during the WBC Finals. This is going to be a piece of our national broadcasting agreements. To do that, it needs to be on a regular schedule."

This year's tournament set ratings records throughout the event, including in the championship game when Venezuela defeated the United States.

There were a number of memorable moments and storylines, including Italy winning a group that featured the United States and Mexico as it celebrated home runs with espresso shots, the Americans defeating the Dominican Republic in a thrilling semifinals matchup, and Venezuela taking home the crown with a win over the Red, White and Blue.

Bryce Harper launched a two-run homer in the eighth to tie that championship game, but Eugenio Suárez gave Venezuela the lead back in the ninth with an RBI double.

The attention now turns to the event's future and when it will happen.

Manfred spoke about that future last month as well and said, "As the game continues to evolve, we have talked about midseason tournaments in general," per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. "And certainly if we decided to get serious about this, about a midseason tournament, this would be an ideal opportunity."

He also said, "The issue for us is whether we do it in '29 or in '30, three years or four years? I'm getting a lot of emails from people today saying don't make us wait four more years for this."

Wherever year it ends up being, it is clear Manfred wants a more regular rotation much like the Olympics and World Cup.