World Baseball Classic 2026: Pool B Preview – Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the United States

With the Winter Olympics concluded, the focus shifts to baseball’s premier international competition: the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This sixth edition of the tournament is just one week away. Over the next few days, we’ll preview all 20 participating teams in the WBC, starting with Pool B, which features Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. Play begins March 6 in Houston, Texas.

Brazil

Tournament history: This marks Brazil’s second WBC appearance. In 2013, the team went 0-3 but remained competitive against Japan and Cuba.

First game: March 6 vs. USA, 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Local time).

Key players: Only three Brazilian pitchers – Eric Pardinho, Daniel Missaki, and Gabriel Barbosa – have experience in affiliated baseball. Daniel Missaki, who participated in the 2013 WBC at age 16, is likely to start against Team USA, having thrown 74 innings with a 4.38 ERA in Triple-A last season. Enzo Sawayama recorded six strikeouts in a crucial qualifying game against Germany last March, playing for Yamaha’s company team in Japan, which won the country’s Amateur Baseball Championship.

Guy you don’t recognize yet but should: Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of former MLB starter José Contreras, is committed to Vanderbilt but could be drafted before attending college. His fastball is consistently in the mid-90s.

Biggest strength: The inherent unpredictability of baseball.

Biggest weakness: The roster. No player on the Brazilian squad has ever appeared in an MLB game, while the United States may have as many as 10 future Hall of Famers.

Tournament outlook: Simply qualifying for the WBC is a significant achievement for Brazil. Avoiding a lopsided defeat against the United States would be a moral victory. A game against Great Britain offers their best chance for an improbable win, but simply appearing as a competent baseball team would be a success.

Great Britain

Tournament history: After debuting in 2023, Great Britain returns for its second WBC. They surprised many in 2023 with a win against Colombia and competitive losses against the USA and Mexico.

First game: March 6 vs. Mexico, 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. Local time).

Key players: Jazz Chisholm Jr., born and raised in the Bahamas, will produce his first WBC appearance. He’s a co-captain alongside Nationals catcher Harry Ford, who hit two home runs as a 20-year-old in the 2023 tournament. Rays pitching prospect Gary Gill Hill is expected to lead the pitching staff.

Guy you don’t know yet but should: Kristian Robinson was once a top-50 prospect but faced setbacks due to a mental health episode. He’s persevered and climbed the minor-league ladder.

Biggest strength: Team speed. Chisholm stole 31 bases last year, Robinson 34 in the minors, and several other players similarly possess significant speed.

Biggest weakness: Pitching. Only two British arms are currently on 40-man MLB rosters.

Tournament outlook: Great Britain’s chances of advancing are slim, facing strong competition from the USA and Mexico. A breakout performance from Chisholm and the speedy lineup would be needed to overcome the pitching deficiencies.

Italy

Tournament history: Italy has participated in all six editions of the WBC, reaching pool play for the first time in 2023.

First game: March 7 vs. Brazil, 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. Local time).

Key player: Aaron Nola is the most accomplished MLB pitcher to ever pitch for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Guy you don’t know yet but should: Andrew Fischer, drafted by the Brewers in the first round last summer, is a powerful hitter with a demonstrative style.

Biggest strength: Raw power. The Italian lineup features several huge leaguers capable of hitting for extra bases.

Biggest weakness: A challenging group. Italy faces tough competition from the USA and Mexico.

Tournament outlook: Italy aims to build on its 2023 success. Advancing to the knockout stage will be difficult, requiring a win against Mexico.

Mexico

Tournament history: Mexico’s third-place finish in 2023 was its best WBC result.

First game: March 6 vs. Great Britain, 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. Local time).

Key players: Randy Arozarena was a standout performer in 2023, and Alejandro Kirk joins the team this year.

Guy you don’t know yet but should: Alexander Armenta, a 21-year-old pitcher, has been developing in the Japanese minor-league system.

Biggest strengths: Defense and relief pitching. Mexico boasts a strong defensive core and a deep bullpen.

Biggest weakness: Starting pitching. The starting rotation lacks the dominance of other top teams.

Tournament outlook: Mexico will be a tough opponent, particularly with its strong bullpen. The game against Italy will likely determine which team advances.

United States

Tournament history: Despite having access to a large pool of MLB players, Team USA has won the WBC only once, in 2017, and reached the final only once more, in 2023.

First game: March 6 vs. Brazil, 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Local time).

Key players: Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, and Bryce Harper lead a new generation of stars.

Guy you don’t know yet but should: Mets phenom Nolan McLean is a dominant young pitcher.

Biggest strength: Star power. The team features numerous All-Stars.

Biggest weakness: The bullpen, though still strong, may not be as dominant as some other teams.

Tournament outlook: On paper, Team USA is the most talented team in the tournament and is a strong favorite to win.