Your Guide to the 2026 World Baseball Classic: Full Pool Breakdown, What to Watch, and Predictions

The 2026 World Baseball Classic kicks off on March 3 with the Championship Game set for March 17 in Miami.

Twenty nations across two continents with one massive question.

Can Team USA and Aaron Judge get revenge on Shohei Ohtani and Japan after the 2023 classic or does Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or Venezuela crash the party and make a deep run?

Here’s a full breakdown of the World Baseball Classic pools…

POOL A — Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico (March 6–11)

Teams: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico

Canada

This might finally be Canada’s year. Manager Ernie Whitt, who has been at the helm since the tournament’s inception in 2006, is working with an all-time high level of MLB interest from Canadian players, which has created the rare problem of having too much talent for the roster spots available.

More importantly, this is the first Pool A without the United States or Mexico standing in the way, a pair of teams that have knocked Canada out in four of the previous five tournaments.

Puerto Rico is also weaker than usual this year due to insurance-related opt-outs. If Canada is going to break through to the quarterfinals for the first time ever, this is genuinely the best setup it has ever had.

The headliners are the Naylor brothers: Josh at first base and Bo behind the plate. Josh, fresh off a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Seattle, has slugged 51 home runs over the past two seasons and steps in as essentially the Freddie Freeman replacement after Freeman opted out. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, top prospect Owen Caissie, and pitcher Jameson Taillon round out a roster with real depth.

Colombia

In just their third WBC appearance, Colombia could be positioning itself for a run. The most memorable moment from 2023 was a jaw-dropping upset win over a heavily favored Mexico squad, and they came within a whisker of beating the USA and Great Britain too.

The roster blends veterans with young talent, and expectations are higher this time around. The rotation is led by veteran lefty Jose Quintana, who posted a 3.76 career ERA pitching for eight organizations and returns to the WBC for the first time since holding Team USA to one run in 5.2 innings back in 2017.

Julio Teheran will round out the starting staff.

Cuba

Cuba has advanced out of the pool stage in all five previous WBC tournaments, one of the most consistent records in the competition’s history. Last time they made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to the United States.

The rotation needs to hold up, and they have a weapon in Livan Moinelo, who won Pacific League MVP in Japan last season with a 1.46 ERA for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

The offensive centerpiece is Alfredo Despaigne, the WBC’s all-time home run leader with seven. The 39-year-old returns to the international stage after his lengthy run in Japan, and will be joined by Angels infielder Yoan Moncada, who is coming off three straight injury-riddled seasons and will be looking to remind people what he can do when healthy.

Panama

Panama has never finished better than 11th in WBC history and failed to even qualify in 2013 and 2017. Last tournament they went 2-2 but got knocked out by an unprecedented five-way tiebreaker.

The mission in 2026 is to leave no doubt.

They will roster a strong defensive infield and a rotation headlined by Cleveland’s Logan Allen, whose mother was born and raised in Panama.

Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero will lead the infield alongside Edmundo Sosa, Johan Camargo, Ruben Tejada, and catcher Miguel Amaya.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is without Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javy Baez this year, which is a significant blow on paper. But manager Yadier Molina still has a roster full of proven MLB talent, and there is one major addition: eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado, who previously played for Team USA in 2017 and 2023, switched his allegiance this time to honor his Puerto Rican-Cuban mother.

That is a big pickup.

The pitching staff includes Seth Lugo, Fernando Cruz, Jorge Lopez, and Edwin Diaz, who returns to the tournament after his infamous knee injury celebrating on the mound in 2023.

Shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo steps in for Lindor, while outfielders Willi Castro, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, and MJ Melendez fill out the lineup. Do not sleep on this team just because it is missing some familiar names.

What to Watch: Cuba vs. Puerto Rico on March 9. Home-field crowd plus two historically passionate fan bases equals must-see baseball.

Prediction: Canada wins the pool. This is their moment. Puerto Rico finishes as the runner-up.

Complete Schedule: 2026 World Baseball Classic

POOL B — Houston, Texas (March 6–11)

Teams: Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, USA

United States

This is the best roster Team USA has ever put together, and it is not particularly close. The mission is simple: avenge the 2023 final against Japan.

Four of the top five finishers in 2025 AL MVP voting are on this team, headlined by three-time MVP Aaron Judge, who is finally making his WBC debut. Cal Raleigh, who set the all-time record for home runs by a catcher with 60 last season, and Kyle Schwarber, who hit 56, give the lineup terrifying middle-of-the-order depth.

Bobby Witt Jr. led the majors in hits both of the last two seasons. Paul Skenes followed a Rookie of the Year campaign with a Cy Young in 2025. Tarik Skubal is coming off back-to-back Cy Young Awards.

Oh, and Bryce Harper is finally making his WBC debut after being unable to participate in 2023 due to injury. He was part of Team USA’s 16U and 18U squads and has waited a long time for this.

The rotation is elite, the lineup is deep at every spot, and the bullpen features All-Star closer Mason Miller. The only reason this team does not sweep through undefeated is that baseball is unpredictable.

Mexico

Japan needed a Munetaka Murakami walk-off double in the ninth inning of the 2023 semifinals to send Mexico home. That is how close they came to the WBC Finals.

The core of that group returns in 2026, with Jarren Duran and Jonathan Aranda both significantly more accomplished hitters than they were three years ago. New additions include All-Star closer Andres Munoz, All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk, slick-fielding shortstop Joey Ortiz, and pitching prospect Taj Bradley.

The heartbeat of the whole thing is Randy Arozarena, who posted a 1.507 OPS at the 2023 WBC with six doubles and a homer in six games and was arguably the best hitter in the entire tournament. His energy and swagger set the tone for this group, and he tends to elevate when the stakes are highest.

The rotation is the question mark, but the lineup is legitimate.

Italy

Italy has made the WBC quarterfinals twice and will need to run the table against Brazil and Great Britain before facing USA and Mexico, where an upset could be brewing if they carry momentum.

The rotation is headlined by Aaron Nola, coming off his worst season as a big leaguer but still the best starter Italy has ever brought to the tournament.

Vinnie Pasquantino, who slugged 32 home runs last year, is the lineup anchor, with Royals teammate Jac Caglianone, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee, and Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone filling out a young and promising group.

Caglianone hit 20 home runs in 66 minor league games before his callup last year and brings serious power potential.

Great Britain

One of the most entertaining teams at the 2023 WBC, and the tea-sipping celebrations on the basepaths after big hits will live forever. Great Britain won its first ever WBC game against Colombia and pushed both the USA and Mexico before falling short. The arrow is pointing up.

The roster now has Jazz Chisholm Jr., who just had a 30-30 season with the Yankees, leading the way, along with D-backs outfield prospect Kristian Robinson. Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford, who homered twice in 2023, anchors things alongside Chisholm as co-captain.

Giants reliever Tristan Beck and Yankees minor leaguer Brendan Beck, brothers whose mother is from Great Britain, will play together for the first time since being college teammates at Stanford in 2018.

Brazil

Making just their second WBC appearance, Brazil does not have the MLB firepower of the other teams in this pool, but they do have some interesting names.

The sons of accomplished major league veterans will be on the roster, including Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny Ramirez, and 17-year-old Joseph Contreras, son of Jose Contreras. Brazil won the qualifier last year for the first time since 2013 and could have an upset or two in them.

The veteran presence of Leonardo Reginatto, who has appeared in every WBC and qualifier game Brazil has ever played and hit .385 in last year’s qualifier, will help keep them competitive.

What to Watch: USA vs. Mexico. In 2023, Mexico jumped out to a 7-1 lead after four innings and never looked back in an 11-5 blowout. That result will absolutely be on Team USA’s mind, and this rematch has must-see written all over it.

Prediction: USA sweeps the pool. Mexico and Italy play a win-or-go-home final game on March 11, with Mexico advancing alongside the Americans for the second straight tournament.

Complete Schedule: 2026 World Baseball Classic

POOL C — Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan (March 5–10)

Teams: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Korea

Japan

Three-time WBC champions. Playing at home. Still have Ohtani, even if he is only hitting this time around. Japan outscored pool opponents by 30 runs and went undefeated in 2023, and while the rotation looks different without Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga, and Yu Darvish, the pieces that remain are still elite.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, coming off World Series MVP honors and an All-Star season with the Dodgers, leads the pitching staff.

Munetaka Murakami, whose walk-off double sent Japan past Mexico in the 2023 semifinals, will be making his MLB debut later this year, as will Central League MVP Teruaki Sato, who hit 40 home runs in NPB last season.

Seiya Suzuki returns to the lineup after missing 2023 with an injury. Japan is the defending champion and the heavy favorite to win it all again.

Korea

Korea finished runner-up in the 2009 WBC and has been searching for that level since. They had the highest OPS of any team in the 2023 tournament, and the offense will again need to carry the load given that the pitching staff posted a 7.55 ERA last time.

MLB talent includes Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, who went 6-for-14 in 2023, along with Hyeseong Kim, Jahmai Jones, and Shay Whitcomb. KBO standouts Do Yeong Kim, who had 38 homers and 40 steals as a 20-year-old in 2024, and Hyun Min Ahn, the KBO Rookie of the Year last season with 22 home runs and a 1.018 OPS, add more firepower.

Former All-Star Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched to a 3.23 ERA at 38 years old last year in the KBO and brings big-game experience. Mariners camp invitee Dane Dunning will try to stabilize the rotation.

Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei is coming in with genuine momentum after winning gold at the 2024 Premier12 tournament. They went 2-2 in 2023 but failed to advance on tiebreaker rules, which stings.

Outfielder Yu Chang was pool MVP in 2023 despite his team going home early, hitting .438 with four extra-base hits and eight RBI. Pitcher Jo-Hsi Hsu, who parlayed two big seasons in the CPBL into a deal with NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, headlines the pitching staff, and A’s minor league arm Wei-En Lin struck out 117 batters in 87 innings across three levels last year.

There is enough here to push for the runner-up spot out of this pool.

Australia

Australia made it out of pool play for the first time in 2023 and nearly upset Cuba in the quarterfinals before losing 4-3 in the final innings.

They do not have a ton of MLB representation, but that did not stop them last time. Travis Bazzana, the first ever Australian-born first-round draft pick, brings power and speed to a lineup that already includes White Sox infielder Curtis Mead.

Pitcher Jack O’Loughlin allowed just one hit in 4.2 innings in two starts during the 2023 tournament. And Liam Hendriks, the three-time All-Star reliever who missed 2023 while battling cancer, is in the designated pitcher pool and could be added if Australia advances. That would be a great story.

Czechia

The Czechia roster is mostly amateur players with other day jobs, and that is part of what makes them so genuinely fun to watch. Yes, electrician Ondrej Satoria and his changeup are back.

In 2023 they scored eight runs against China, jumped out to an early lead against Japan, and won over fans and MLB legends alike with the way they played the game. They are not going to win the pool. But they are going to be fun, and sometimes that is enough.

What to Watch: Korea vs. Chinese Taipei on March 8. This game likely determines who moves on as the runner-up out of Pool C, and both teams have the talent to make it compelling.

Prediction: Japan sweeps the pool without much drama. Korea has enough offense to hold off Chinese Taipei and Australia and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009.

Complete Schedule: 2026 World Baseball Classic

POOL D — loanDepot Park, Miami, Florida (March 6–11)

Teams: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Venezuela

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic won the whole thing in 2013 and has been a contender in every tournament since. In 2026 they are bringing arguably the most frightening lineup in the field, and there is a genuine case that this is the most talented WBC roster the country has ever assembled.

Start with Juan Soto, who is coming off signing one of the largest contracts in baseball history with the Mets and entering his prime as one of the best hitters on the planet. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are two of the most exciting players in the game.

Manny Machado brings veteran leadership and one of the best two-way third basemen in recent memory. Add Ketel Marte, Julio Rodriguez, and Oneil Cruz, and you have a lineup that goes seven deep with players who can hurt you in any number of ways.

There is no obvious weak spot. This is a championship or bust roster.

Venezuela

Venezuela has never won a WBC title but has finished as runner-up and has consistently been one of the more talented rosters in the field.

In 2026, Ronald Acuna Jr. is the centerpiece and one of the most electric players in the sport when he is right. If he is healthy and locked in, Venezuela becomes genuinely dangerous in a deep run.

Acuna leads the way, and Jackson Chourio, who emerged as one of the better young hitters in the American League last season with Milwaukee, gives Venezuela a dynamic second option. This is a team built around athleticism and upside, and they have enough talent to take down anyone in the pool on a given day.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the more underrated programs in WBC history, consistently advancing out of pool play and giving top competition legitimate trouble. Their talent pipeline runs through the Dutch Caribbean, specifically Curacao and Aruba, and this year’s roster features two legitimate All-Star caliber players.

Ozzie Albies and Xander Bogaerts headline the Dutch roster. Albies has been one of the better second basemen in baseball for years and brings serious energy. Bogaerts, even in the later stages of his career, is a former All-Star shortstop with big-game experience and elite contact ability.

The Netherlands is not a pushover, and any team in this pool that overlooks them is making a mistake.

Israel

The short answer is that it probably will not make much noise in this particular pool, but Team Israel has already proven that writing them off completely is a mistake.

The 2017 run is the stuff of WBC lore. They went 3-0 through pool play with wins against South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and the Netherlands, then opened the next round by beating Cuba to go 4-0 before the magic finally ran out against the Netherlands and Japan.

In 2023, playing in Miami in what was nicknamed the Pool of Death, they went 1-3 with the only win coming against Nicaragua. So the range of outcomes for this team is genuinely wide.

This year’s roster features the same blend of American Jewish big leaguers and minor leaguers that has defined every Team Israel appearance. Harrison Bader, Spencer Horwitz, Dean Kremer, and Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs headline the group.

Kremer’s four-inning shutout performance against Nicaragua in 2023 was the best individual pitching outing in program history. The most realistic goal for Israel in 2026 is beating Nicaragua, securing a win that would qualify them for the next WBC, and hopefully stealing one against a team they are not supposed to beat.

Nicaragua

They probably will not make much noise, unfortunately. Nicaragua is making a rare WBC appearance and the draw could not have been much harder. But tournament baseball is funny, and the chance to represent their country on this stage against some of the best players in the world is something these players will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes that matters more than the scoreboard.

What to Watch: Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela. Two of the most talented baseball nations in the world going head to head, both loaded with current All-Stars, both with legitimate aspirations to win the whole tournament. This game has the potential to be the best single matchup of pool play across all four groups, and whoever wins carries real momentum into Miami.

Prediction: The Dominican Republic wins Pool D and enters the quarterfinals as one of the favorites to hoist the trophy on March 17. Venezuela advances as the runner-up. The gap between those two teams and the rest of the pool is significant, though the Netherlands will push them both.

Complete Schedule: 2026 World Baseball Classic

That wraps up all four pools. Pool play runs through March 11, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and Championship Game all in Miami from March 13-17. The bracket is set, the rosters are loaded, and the 2026 World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be the best one yet.

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