Major League Baseball(MLB) officially confirmed the rosters of the 20 countries that will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, one of the most important international tournaments in the sports calendar and of special interest to the Hispanic community living in the United States.
The tournament will kick off on March 5, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome, with the opening match between China Taipei and Australia. The remaining groups will kick off on March 6, with venues in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium); Houston, Texas (Daikin Park); and Miami, Florida (LoanDepot Park), ensuring wide coverage for fans in the U.S. Each of the four venues will host a group of five teams, which will play a round robin phase. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The qualifiers from Tokyo will travel to Miami, while those from San Juan will travel to Houston. From the semifinals onward, Miami will be the sole venue, including the championship game, scheduled for March 17.
High-level staffs and renowned figures
The rosters revealed show the enormous competitive level of the World Baseball Classic.
The United States will have a star-studded roster, led by the likes of Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and Paul Skenes.
Combining offensive power and pitching depth.
Japan, the current world power, returns with an elite roster led by Shohei Ohtani.
Accompanied by pitchers and hitters who dominate in both MLB and NPB.
South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Australia also have strong squads for the Asian group.
In the Americas, the Dominican Republic stands out with a stellar lineup that includes Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Julio Rodriguez.
Once again emerging as one of the great favorites for the title.
Venezuela and Puerto Rico are no slouches either, with balanced rosters full of proven Major League talent.
The tournament will begin on March 5, 2026
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Mexico and Latin America, protagonists
For the U.S. Hispanic audience, the focus is also on Mexico.
They will have players such as Randy Arozarena, Alejandro Kirk, Joey Meneses, Andres Munoz and Jose Urquidy, a combination of experience, power and high-level pitching.
Other Latin American teams such as Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, Brazil and Venezuela reinforce the global character of the World Baseball Classic.
While European teams such as Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Israel and the Czech Republic reflect the international expansion of baseball.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic promises to be one of the most watched sporting events of the year, with key venues in the United States and a strong presence of Latino players looking to make history in March.
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