[Photo] Cho Byeong-hyeon guards South Korea's backdoor

A miracle in Tokyo. The Korea WBC national team advanced past the first round for the first time in 17 years.

Korea won over Australia in a Group C first-round game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Mar. 9. With that, Korea finished the group round at 2-2 and, by edging Australia and Taiwan on fewest runs allowed, advanced past the first round for the first time since 2009, ending a 17-year wait. Now Korea boards a charter flight to Miami.

After the game, Korea's Cho Byung-hyun is sharing the joy of victory. Mar. 9, 2026

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