The World Baseball Classic is held roughly every three to four years. The tournament began in 2006 and has occurred in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2023, with plans for a return in 2026. The cadence has varied due to scheduling and disruptions (notably the 2021 edition being postponed), but the established pattern has been a multi-year cycle aimed at a spring-training postseason flow for international play.