Will Team USA reclaim the World Baseball Classic title in 2026?
The United States will be looking to rebound from a runner-up finish when the World Baseball Classic returns in March.
After capturing their first WBC title in 2017, the Americans made it all the back to the final of the 2023 international baseball tournament. But the U.S. fell just short of pulling off the repeat, losing to 3-2 to Japan. The thrilling tournament was capped by Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure Japan’s third WBC title.
Now, as the 2026 tournament approaches, Team USA is putting together a roster that’s certainly championship-caliber.
The club is captained by New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge. The roster also features both the NL and AL MVP runners-up from 2025 in Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. The pitching staff, meanwhile, is headlined by the reigning Cy Young winners in Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes and Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is one of the best power hitters in baseball. Here’s five things to know about the man they call “Big Dumper.”
And those aren’t the only MLB stars who will be donning red, white and blue.
Who is on Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster?
Here’s an updated breakdown of manager Mark DeRosa‘s roster to this point (this section will be updated as roster additions are announced):
Starting pitchers
Relievers
Catchers
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Infielders
Outfielders
Bednar, Schwarber, Smith and Witt Jr. are returning members from the 2023 squad.
When does the 2026 World Baseball Classic start?
The opening game of the tournament is scheduled for March 4.
What are the 2026 World Baseball Classic dates?
Pool play will run from March 4-March 11 followed by the quarterfinals from March 13-14, the semifinals from March 15-16 and the championship game on March 17.
Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?
Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Daikin Park in Houston
loanDepot park in Miami
The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.
Which teams are in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The WBC features 20 teams which are split into four different pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.
Here’s a breakdown of the pools and host cities:
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Panama
Puerto Rico
Pool B (Houston)
Brazil
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
United States
Pool C (Tokyo, Japan)
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Japan
Korea
Pool D (Miami)
Dominican Republic
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Venezuela
How does the World Baseball Classic work?
The WBC opens with a round robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination.
Teams from Pools A and B will play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D will play in Miami.