TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 2026 Taiwan-Japan Baseball International Exchange Games are underway at the Taipei Dome (臺北大巨蛋) from Wednesday (Feb. 25) to Saturday (Feb. 28), showcasing matchups between Taiwan's national team and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (福岡軟銀鷹) and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (北海道日本火腿鬥士). Organizers aim to provide thrilling games and entertainment for baseball fans.
Taiwan's national team is preparing for the sixth World Baseball Classic (WBC) by competing against the NPB teams. The SoftBank Hawks will face the CTBC Brothers (中信兄弟) on Wednesday and the Chinese Taipei national baseball team (中華成棒隊) on Thursday (Feb. 26), while the Nippon-Ham Fighters will play against the Chinese Taipei national baseball team on Friday (Feb. 27) and the WeiChuan Dragons (味全龍) on Saturday. The games promise to be intense, with Taiwan teams occupying the first-base dugout and Japanese teams the third-base dugout.
International performers will entertain fans during the games on Wednesday and Saturday, adding excitement and variety to the event. The organizers hope these performances will enhance the experience for Taiwanese baseball enthusiasts. This is to bring more spectacle and fun to the 2026 Taiwan-Japan Baseball International Exchange Games.
Cheer sections will also differ based on matchups and dates. For games involving NPB teams, the cheering area will be in the second-floor outfield seats against Taiwan's national team and the third-base side against CPBL teams. The SoftBank Hawks' Honeys and the Fighters Girl from the Nippon-Ham Fighters will lead cheer squads, bringing authentic Japanese cheering styles to Taiwan.