There is not always room for fairytales in sport and that was the case in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic, as Mexico were not able to overcome Japan and make it to a first ever final. They came close though, narrowly losing 6-5 on Monday in Florida.

Similarly, it was the United States that won the other semi-final against Cuba and now the Asian side and the Americans will do battle in the final.

This is an opportunity for Team USA to win their second-ever WBC having managed it back in 2017.

Where and when is the 2023 World Baseball Classic final?

The game will take place in the same location as the quarter-finals and semi-finals, at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

It will take place this Tuesday, March 21 at 17:00 Central Mexico Time, which is 19:00 ET and 16:00 PT.

Where can you watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic final?

The match will be broadcast on free TV by Imagen Television in Mexico, while it’s FOX Sports who have the rights to the tournament in the USA.

Background of Japan and Team USA in WBC finals

The team from the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ won the World Baseball Classic championship in the 2006 and 2009 editions, in the first one defeating Cuba 10-6 in the final at Petco Park in San Diego, California, and in the second one defeating South Korea 5-3 in extra innings at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The United States is the defending champion of this tournament. In the 2017 edition, they won the final by a resounding score of 8-0 against the ninth of Puerto Rico also at Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine.

These two teams recently met in the 2020 Olympic Games baseball final, when Japan won 2-0 in the gold medal match on home soil.