U.S.

It seems like just yesterday that Japan took down the United States in the World Baseball Classic final, with Shohei Ohtani striking out his then-Los Angeles Angels teammate, Mike Trout, to win the title.

The World Baseball Classic is back, and as an avid MLB fan, I couldn’t be more excited. The U.S. team has consistently been considered the most talented team in the Classic almost every time it has been played, though the success hasn’t always been there. 

In the first Classic in 2006, the U.S. didn’t make it past the quarterfinals, losing to Mexico, 2-1. In 2009, the U.S. made the semifinal but fell to Japan, 9-4. 

It wasn’t until 2017 that Team USA made the final, and they dominated Puerto Rico, 8-0, to claim the title. If we’re being honest here, Japan is the only threat to the U.S. in this tournament.

Japan has won three titles, including the first two in 2006 and 2009, and the country doesn’t look like it plans on stopping its domination anytime soon. Ohtani will play for Japan in this year’s tournament but will only serve as a designated hitter. Last year, the star double threat had nearly 150 runs scored out and 172 hits.

The 2023 Team USA roster had good talent, but a lot of players on that team were aging veterans who just wanted to get the tournament over with and join their respective MLB squads for the regular season. 

The pitching staff was especially bad compared to the 2026 squad we are set to see.

In 2026, Team USA’s pitching staff will be headlined by the 2025 American League and National League Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. 

Add flamethrower Mason Miller to the bullpen to pair with closer David Bednar, who was on the 2023 team, the pitching staff looks unstoppable for the team.

The lineup for Team USA also got younger and more talented for 2026, with up-and-coming stars Pete Crow-Armstrong and Roman Anthony roaming the outfield and 2025 AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh behind the plate.

The AL MVP winner, Aaron Judge, will also participate in this year’s tournament, giving Team USA plenty of firepower to win the title.

Team USA paired young stars with veteran presence, which always bodes well for WBC teams.

Japan is always going to be tough to beat, but if any Team USA squad can do it, it’s the 2026 roster. 

Mexico

The last time Mexico competed in the World Baseball Classic, they were defeated by the eventual champions, Japan. This year, they’re building on their magical run from last time and taking the crown. 

The biggest addition for this year’s Mexico squad is catcher Alejandro Kirk. The Toronto Blue Jays catcher withdrew from the tournament last year due to the birth of his son. This time around, Kirk is bringing his World Series experience to team Mexico. 

The breakout star of the last WBC, Randy Arozarena, is back in the environment where he thrives the most. Arozarena made iconic plays with his glove and his bat in the last tournament, and there is no doubt he will play his best to represent his country. 

Joining Arozarena in the outfield, Mexico has Jarren Duran, who was selected to the All-MLB Second Team a year ago. If you think Duran is fast, wait until you see Alek Thomas fly around and make plays. Mexico’s outfield has a great mix of speed and experience, which sounds like winning to me. 

The highlight of the infield comes from first baseman Joey Meneses. While you may not know his name, you probably remember his two home run game over Team USA last WBC. Meneses may not light it up in MLB, but his track record shows that the WBC is his time to shine. 

Mexico also has the home run hitting Jonathan Aranda, who was featured in the Home Run Derby this past season. Rowdy Tellez is another first baseman on the roster who is capable of hitting it out of the ballpark. Luis Uriás is the final piece of the infield puzzle, who has been garnering MLB experience for years and brings a veteran presence to the Mexico locker room. 

Finally, when you look at the pitching crew for Mexico, you may not recognize all of the names on the list, but do not let that deter you. Javier Assad of the Chicago Cubs had an incredible WBC last time around and looks to continue that dominance. Andrés Muñoz and Taijuan Walker are other big league arms on the roster who are very capable of giving Mexico valuable innings. 

Mexico will probably not be picked by any of the experts, but don’t let that discourage you from cheering for the best underdog story in the WBC.