The World Baseball Classic is upon us once again! The last WBC made the event a true global sensation among fans, with some really epic moments (Mike Trout vs. Shohei Ohtani, anyone?) and some introductions to future stars to come to Major League Baseball (like Shota Imanaga and Munataki Murakami). As the nations gear up for the beginning of the sixth iteration of the Classic, we’re here to break down how to watch it, and who from the Chicago Cubs will take part in the event. 

How to watch: 
If you’re interested in solely the games played by the United States team, you’ll be in luck (provided you have access), as all games featuring the team will be played on FOX. Not only will FOX host all of the Pool B games involving Team USA, but they will also be the home of the quarterfinals and the championship game, regardless of who’s playing in those games. 

If you’d like to experience the entire tournament, you’ll be bouncing around a little more. Between FOX Sports, FS1 and even Tubi, the WBC has many different streaming homes for individual games. You can get a full breakdown on MLB.com by using this link. 

Which Cubs are set to play in the World Baseball Classic?
Matthew Boyd, SP – USA
What a cool honor for Matthew Boyd, who has to be riding quite high. Signed to what seemed like an underwhelming two-year pact last offseason, the left-handed pitcher has seen quite the career rebirth over the last 365 days: making the All-Star team in 2025, pitching like the Cubs’ rock in the playoffs, and now being selected to wear the red, white and blue. Whether Boyd gets a start or is used as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen (as the Cleveland Guardians used the hurler in the 2024 season at times) will have to be seen, but he’s going to pitch a few important innings. It’s a testament to how hard he’s worked and a reminder of how many injuries he’s had to endure to get here.

Alex Bregman, 3B – USA
It’s very likely that Alex Bregman will start multiple games for Team USA in the tournament and be a key contributor in the lineup. While it’s a bit of a bummer that our first look at the team’s new star third baseman will be in a pinestripe-less version of red-white-and-blue, this is a good sneak peak as to what we can expect. It’s going to be fun to see one of the best players on the roster be a member of the Cubs over the next half-decade. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF – USA
I wonder if Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to be a starter, or simply a weapon off the bench to best utilize his glove and speed. Regardless, he’s going to bring an air of excitement when he gets into any game. Sure, the young outfielder may strike out, but he’s capable of creating pure electricity on the baseball field. While it’s unlikely that he’s going to carry the team in any capacity, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up being a memorable and vital member of the roster.

Seiya Suzuki, OF – Japan
Seiya Suzuki won’t be the most notable Japanese hitter on the roster, with the looming shadow of Ohtani looming over every moment Samurai Japan is on the field, but he should provide important protection for the Japanese superstar. Whether he’s hitting just in front of or just behind him, Suzuki should be a mainstay in the Japanese lineup. With Japan offering one of the deepest rosters as well as being the defending champions, there’s a good chance that Suzuki will meet his teammates in the quarterfinals or the championship game, setting up a pretty fun competition between them. Unlike in 2023, though, the Cubs’ outfielder will not be joined by Shota Imanaga on the roster, who instead will stick with the Cubs in Arizona. (Suzuki himself missed out last time, due to an oblique strain. He’s surely excited to get to participate this time around.)

Jameson Taillon, SP – Canada
Jameson Taillon has dual citizenship due to his parents, and while he likely wasn’t going to crack a stacked American roster, he will be one of the best pitchers on the Canadian roster. Taillon has been a steady player for the Cubs, and getting a chance to shine on the world stage like this will be great for him entering the final year of his current deal with the North Siders. It’s likely Team Canada will feature a few former Cubs as well, with Owen Caissie and Michael Soroka both having Canadian citizenship. That makes the Canadians a fun secondary watch for Cubs fans. 

Daniel Palencia, RP – Venezuela 
Daniel Palencia started the year in Triple-A Iowa, but finished the season as the Cubs’ de facto fireman in the playoffs, being tasked with coming in to get the most important parts of the lineup (especially in the three-game-set with San Diego during the Wild Card series). He has used a great 2025 season to spingboard to being the favorite for saves in Chicago, and an important part of the Venezuelan bullpen. This will be a deep team, with other MLB stars such as Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Maikel García all set to join Palencia. It wouldn’t be that crazy if Venezuela ended up winning the whole thing, and it may just be the Cubs’ relief ace recording the final outs. Historically, Team Venezuela has underachieved in the tournament, and they’re desperate to change that this time.

BJ Murray Jr., INF – Great Britain
While BJ Murray Jr. isn’t the biggest of names on this list, the Cubs farmhand will represent Team Great Britain during the Classic. Born in the Bahamas, Murray holds British citizenship. The British lineup isn’t very deep, so even though Murray hasn’t been on the upswing in the minor leagues, he should feature some for the team. Maybe a good showing will lead into a breakout season for the once-promising late-round pick. (Here’s hoping the Brits also make a good showing, by outfitting the team with better uniforms this time.)

Other players who may play:
Not all rosters have been announced yet, but it’s likely that Javier Assad will make Team México (also known as Novena Méxicana (the Mexican Nine)). Assad pitched for his native country in 2023, which boosted his career with the Cubs as the pitcher showed increased velocity in an impressive run. While Assad missed much of 2025, a good step to getting back to his previous form would be having a nice start (or two) during the WBC.

Do you think these players are good selections to their respective rosters? Is someone missing? Let us know in the comments below!