In the opening match of the 2026 World Baseball Classic held at Tokyo Dome on March 5, Australia triumphed over Taiwan with a solid performance that included two home runs. Taiwan had a chance to rally in the ninth inning with a close call at first base that was reviewed by video, but despite their efforts and support from an enthusiastic crowd of over 40,000 Taiwanese fans, they fell short. The game concluded with Australia successfully holding onto their lead.