One of the biggest TV markets for the World Baseball Classic is ... Kansas City
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Team USA drew national audiences up to 3.13 million viewers.
- Kansas City ranked among top markets, peaking at a 3.45 rating.
- Bobby Witt Jr. boosted local interest with stellar defense and two extra-base hits.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic has already been a success among sports fans. And the excitement has generated attention across the globe.
A lot of credit goes to Team USA. The baseball powerhouse drew two of the highest game viewerships in recent memory.
On March 7, Team USA faced Great Britain in Pool B play. The game registered 2.98 million viewers across the country. It was the most-watched non-final WBC game on any telecast with peak viewership reaching 3.74 million viewers on FOX.
Kansas City was at the forefront of the action. There was a large section of baseball fans who tuned in from the metro. KC registered a 2.71 rating (the percentage of households watching) live.
That number trailed only Philadelphia (3.26 rating) as the top viewership market in the country. St. Louis came in third with a 2.40 rating.
A day earlier, KC sat atop the charts in the ratings.
On March 6, millions of fans tuned into Team USA’s matchup against Brazil. It was the most-watched sporting event on the day with 3.13 million viewers watching from 8:45-9 p.m. Central.
KC registered a 3.45 rating during the game. This time, Philadelphia (2.66), St. Louis (2.47), Milwaukee (2.12) and Tulsa (1.99) rounded out the top 5.
A big reason: Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt stars for Team USA in the global tournament. And the national telecast has given Royals fans a chance to see him in action.
So far, Witt has dazzled with his defense. He made two terrific plays in Monday’s game against Mexico at Daikin Park in Houston. He added a pair of extra-base hits while leading Team USA to a 5-3 victory.
Team USA finished Pool B play against Italy. Witt got a chance to play against Royals teammates Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone on Tuesday night.
