Italy’s perfect run through the World Baseball Classic group stage has set up one of the tournament’s most compelling quarterfinal matchups. Francisco Cervelli’s squad went 4-0 in Group B, stunning both the United States and Mexico in Houston to claim first place.
Now they face Puerto Rico, and this one’s going to tell us everything about whether Italy’s magical run can continue.
The Italians didn’t just sneak through their group – they dominated it. Vinnie Pasquantino, Aaron Nola, and Jac Caglione have been the story of this tournament so far, turning what looked like a brutal group into Italy’s coming-out party on the international stage.
Puerto Rico brings a different kind of challenge. Yadier Molina’s team finished 3-1 in Group A after playing their group stage games in San Juan, and they’ve got the kind of proven talent that wins these tournaments. Nolan Arenado, Eddie Rosario, and Edwin Diaz give them legitimate championship credentials.
What makes this matchup fascinating is the contrast in expectations. Italy’s been playing with house money all tournament long. Puerto Rico’s been here before and knows what it takes to make a deep run.
How to Watch Italy vs. Puerto Rico
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: Fubo
- Spanish broadcast: Fox Deportes
Italy vs. Puerto Rico will air on FS1, with Spanish speakers able to follow along on Fox Deportes. You can stream the game via Fubo, which offers new users a free trial.
When is Italy vs. Puerto Rico?
- Date: Saturday, Mar. 14
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Daikon Park, Houston, Texas
The quarterfinal matchup tips off at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday from Houston. It’s the second game of a four-game quarterfinal slate that will determine who moves on to Miami for the semifinals.
For radio listeners, you can catch the game on SiriusXM via channel 83 (Fox Sports) or 89 (MLB Network Radio). SiriusXM offers new subscribers a four-month free trial with access to live games across all major sports.
Complete WBC Knockout Schedule
Here’s how the rest of the tournament plays out, with semifinals and the championship moving to Miami:
Friday, March 13 – Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic vs. South Korea | 6:30 p.m. | FS2, Fubo |
| United States vs. Canada | 8 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
Saturday, March 14 – Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico vs. Italy | 3 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
| Japan vs. Venezuela | 9 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
Sunday, March 15 – Semifinals
Semifinals and championship will be played in Miami
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Friday quarterfinal winners | 8 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
Monday, March 16 – Semifinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday quarterfinal winners | 8 p.m. | FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, March 17 – Championship
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Semifinal winners | 8 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
The way I see it, this Italy-Puerto Rico matchup might be the most telling quarterfinal of the bunch. Puerto Rico’s got the experience and the star power, but Italy’s been playing like a team that genuinely believes it can win this whole thing. Saturday afternoon in Houston should give us our answer about whether that belief can carry them all the way to Miami.
