Baseball’s global spectacle, the 2026 World Baseball Classic, will begin play on March 4, with Chinese Taipei squaring up against Australia. After an exciting 2023 Classic, which had memorable moments from Nicaragua pitcher Duque Hebbert getting a contract with the Tigers after striking out three of MLB’s biggest Dominican stars (Julio Rodriguez, Juan Soto and Rafael Devers), to Trea Turner’s grand slam against Venezuela sending USA to the semifinals, to then-teammates Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani facing off in the final at-bat of the championship game, fans are eager to see what big moments are in store this year.
With the first game of the global tournament just a week away, here are some of the most intriguing teams to watch in the 2026 WBC.
Team Japan- The defending champions, many of Japan’s key stars are returning, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani (who is relegated to hitting only for the tournament), as well as other established Japan-to-MLB imports, such as pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Team USA- After falling just short of winning the 2023 WBC, Team USA is just as strong as last time, if not better. Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, who are arguably the best pitchers in baseball at the moment, join a star-stacked roster that sees Phillies stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, 2025 MVP Aaron Judge and his runner-up Cal Raleigh, as well as two of baseball’s best shortstops in Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson.
Team Puerto Rico- Managed by longtime Cardinals stalwart Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico has some big names on the roster, including veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, and dominant closer Edwin Diaz, who injured himself for the entirety of the 2023 season after suffering a freak patellar tendon tear celebrating a key win. The biggest storyline surrounding the Puerto Rican team, however, is who isn’t on the team. Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, two of the country’s biggest stars, were unable to participate due to insurance concerns, while another major name, Javier Baez was suspended from the classic after failing a drug test for marijuana.
Team Venezuela- While pitchers Jose Alvarado (insurance) and Pablo Lopez (Tommy John Surgery) are recent – and major – subtractions from Venezuela’s roster, their team will still be one of the more feared matchups in the tournament. Thanks to players like 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., slugging veterans Eugenio Suarez and Salvador Perez, and young, upstart talents in Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu, Venezuela will look to make up for their heartbreaking loss in the last tournament, and will be led by a staff headlined by their hitting coach, two-time MVP winner and likely future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera.
Team Dominican Republic- Once again, the Dominican Republic roster is one of the tournament’s best. Key players, like postseason hero Vladimir Guerrero Jr., young stars Juan Soto, Junior Caminero and Julio Rodriguez, and veterans Manny Machado, Ketel Marte and Sandy Alcantara, will be led by another future Hall of Famer in their coaching staff: 3-time MVP, 700 home run hitter Albert Pujols.
The World Baseball Classic stretches out over the span of roughly two weeks. The bracket-style tournament features 16 countries, split into four different pools. Pool play makes up the first round, with the winners and runner-ups of each pool playing in the quarterfinals. WInner of the quarterfinals go to the semifinals, where those winners will play in the championship game on March 17.
