Whatever the case, Samurai Japan has a major decision to make between now and then: It has to figure out what it wants to be. Because the Japanese received a definitive verdict on the state of their game in their 8–5 loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the WBC. What they’re doing isn’t working.

Team Japan was widely considered among the favorites to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic after defeating Team USA for the tournament championship in 2023. Armed with the reigning National League MVP (Shohei Ohtani) and starting the reigning World Series MVP (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) in the quarterfinals against Venezuela,

Four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani was left to answer questions after Japan's shocking loss.

Japan will face its first stiff test in its quest for a fourth World Baseball Classic championship Saturday night. After sweeping through Pool C with a 4-0 record, Japan will take on Venezuela in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Japan completed an unbeaten group stage at the World Baseball Classic, beating the Czech Republic 9-0 at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday night behind a nine-run eighth inning capped by Munetaka Murakami's grand slam.