World Baseball Classic Power Rankings

The following power rankings were determined by Just Baseball’s editorial team. Blurbs were taken from each country’s roster preview article, written by various members of the Just Baseball staff.

20. Brazil

Team Brazil debuted in the World Baseball Classic in 2013. They were the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, so it wasn’t exactly surprising when they were swept in pool play, losing to Japan, Cuba, and China. Still, it was a disappointing result for the squad.

Finishing last in their pool meant Brazil did not automatically qualify for the 2017 WBC. Even worse, they would go on to lose their qualifying tournament in 2016, failing to make the classic at all. The Brazilians did not qualify in 2023 either, so their participation this year will mark their first World Baseball Classic appearance in 13 years.

Long story short, Brazil remains an underdog, with the lowest WBSC ranking of any country in the tournament. The USA and Mexico are the heavy favorites in Pool B, and it would be nothing short of a massive upset if Brazil could somehow advance to the second round.

With that said, success for Brazil doesn’t necessarily mean advancing. Even one WBC win – which would be the first in the country’s history – would be a big step forward. That’s not to say this team isn’t going to put up a fight to win it all, but there’s nothing wrong with taking things one step at a time.

Beating Italy or Great Britain would be cause for celebration. Beating Mexico or the USA would be cause for a party in the streets.

Here’s the roster that will be battling for Brazil’s first-ever World Baseball Classic victory.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Brazil roster preview by Leo Morgenstern

19. Czechia

Have you ever found yourself rooting for that scrappy power-of-friendship team? When you turn on a baseball movie, is it Major League? Are you excited to see a pitcher from an amateur men’s league take on Shohei Ohtani?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, Czechia might just be the team for you.

Czechia appeared in its first-ever WBC in 2023 and wound up 1-3. Despite losses to Australia, South Korea, and the eventual champions, Japan, Czechia’s lone win against China was enough to avoid relegation.

This time around, Czechia got the same draw, with one exception: the replacement of China with Chinese Taipei.

This means that the Czechs are back in 2026, and they didn’t need to qualify as they did before. However, this roster also looks notably different, with 11-year MLB vet Eric Sogard not on this year’s team.

That being said, Czechia does have one new addition with MLB service time: Orioles infielder Terrin Vavra. The rest of the team is comprised of a hodgepodge of minor leaguers, players from foreign leagues, and, in most cases, players from the local Czech Baseball Extraliga.

This league is a semi-pro league in Czechia; virtually every player also works a day job to support their baseball journey. Now, it’s time to dive into the Czech roster to find out more about this squad.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Czechia roster preview by Gabe Shumway

18. Great Britain

Great Britain qualified for the World Baseball Classic for the first time in 2023.

With victories over France, Germany, and Spain, the British team swept its way to victory in the Qualifying Tournament (Pool A) held in Regensburg, Germany. Team Great Britain was one of three newcomers in the 2023 tournament, along with Czechia and Nicaragua.

While the Brits didn’t advance past the group stage, that doesn’t mean their first WBC was a failure. It wouldn’t have been fair to expect them to beat the USA, Mexico, or even Canada, all of whom have competed in every World Baseball Classic since the event’s inception. It was no surprise when Team USA and Team Mexico advanced to the quarterfinals, and Great Britain did not.

What was surprising was when Great Britain beat Colombia 7-5, securing a spot in the 2026 WBC in the process. By taking down a Colombian squad that included players like Gio Urshela, Jorge Alfaro, Harold Ramírez, and Gustavo Campero, Team Great Britain finished fourth out of five in Pool C and automatically qualified for this year’s tournament.

Here’s a look at the roster Great Britain will be taking to the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Great Britain roster preview by Leo Morgenstern

17. Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a baseball country, and now, the rest of the world is starting to take notice.

After failing to qualify in 2013 or 2017, Nicaragua finally debuted in the World Baseball Classic in 2023. No one could have expected Team Nicaragua to beat Venezuela, Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic, but their 3-1 loss against Israel was a tough blow, especially since it meant they had to qualify all over again for the 2026 tournament.

Now, however, that 0-4 performance is in the past. Team Nicaragua has qualified again, and they’re headed to their second WBC with a team led by several major leaguers and made up almost entirely of players with experience in affiliated ball.

They’ll be playing in Pool D, against the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Israel. That’s three of the four teams they lost to in 2023, with the Netherlands swapped in for Puerto Rico. The DR and Venezuela are the favorites, with the Dutch team a dark horse to advance.

Needless to say, Team Nicaragua is an underdog, but this squad has enough talent to make things interesting. Their number one goal will be to guarantee themselves a spot in the next WBC, but you never know, a bigger upset is always possible.

Let’s take a closer look at the roster that could bring Nicaragua its first win in the World Baseball Classic.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Nicaragua roster preview by Leo Morgenstern

16. Australia

For Team Australia, the 2026 World Baseball Classic isn’t just about showcasing the best talent from the land down under; it’s about building momentum and looking to earn more respect on the baseball map.

The Aussies have participated in every WBC dating back to 2006, but had little to show for it up until 2023. Australia went a combined 2-10 in its first four classics, never winning multiple games in any tournament or advancing past pool play. But in 2023, things were different.

Right off the bat, Australia opened the tournament with its biggest win in WBC history, an 8-7 victory over Team Korea. A team without a major leaguer out-slugged a lineup with Tommy Edman, Ha-Seong Kim and Jung Hoo Lee.

After that, they later went on to defeat China 12-2 and the Czech Republic 8-3, enough to survive Pool B. In its first quarterfinal game, Australia’s run came to an end with a 4-3 loss to Cuba. Nonetheless, it was the country’s best showing on the world’s biggest stage.

Heading into the 2026 WBC, Team Australia suddenly has some level of expectations, something they’ve never really entered the tournament with before. They will bring back 17 returners from the 2023 roster, along with some exciting newcomers, especially on the position player side.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Australia roster preview by Daniel Curren

15. Chinese Taipei

Baseball fans are about to be spoiled. Three years ago, we witnessed some of the purest, most electric baseball ever played, and now 20 countries are back to battle for the title of best in the world.

Team Chinese Taipei’s last appearance showcased both highs and lows. After dropping their opening game in Pool A to Panama, they went on to beat Italy and the Netherlands. Unfortunately, after a 7-1 loss to Cuba, the club was eliminated from pool play due to a tiebreaker, despite finishing 2-2.

This time around, Chinese Taipei aims to advance from pool play for the first time since 2013. However, they have the daunting task of advancing from Pool C. Their pool includes a good South Korea squad and last tournament’s winner, Japan. 

The team’s rosters and coaches were recently announced. Let’s learn more about this Chinese Taipei squad and names to look out for.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Chinese Taipei roster preview by Ethan Penrod

14. Israel

As the World Baseball Classic approaches, anticipation for the tournament intensifies, particularly following the release of the full rosters for all 20 teams.

Israel has built one of its more experienced rosters to date, and this team is looking to shock some people in the baseball world.

Team Israel played in the qualifiers in 2013 but didn’t make the cut for the main tournament. Their first appearance in the WBC was in 2017, when they were one of the lowest-ranked competing teams and a true underdog.

That underdog squad impressively swept their pool, which included three countries ranked in the top 10 (South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and the Netherlands), advancing to the second round.

Israel continued its impressive run, winning the first game of the second round against Cuba, but ended up falling in the next two games against the Netherlands and Japan.

The 2023 WBC didn’t go as well for Team Israel, as they failed to advance to the next round after losing three of four pool play games, including back-to-back 10-0 shutouts against Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

With several returning members and a couple of big new faces, this team is looking to revive some of that 2017 magic and make it out of pool play for the second time in its history.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Israel roster preview by Cai Rogers

13. Panama

One of the best things about the World Baseball Classic is that it is a true showing of baseball’s global talent. Panama is a country of just four and a half million people. That makes them the second-smallest country in the tournament. Only Puerto Rico has a smaller population to pull from.

For those unfamiliar with the history of baseball in Panama, here are a couple of quick notes. There is a Winter League in Panama that currently features four teams. There have been over 70 MLB players from Panama. Most famously, Hall of Famers Rod Carew and Mariano Rivera are both from Panama.

This will be Panama’s fourth appearance in the WBC. They have yet to make it out of the group stage.

Entering the tournament, Panama is far from a global power. Their roster is made up of just 13 players currently in MLB or MiLB. As stated, this is what makes this tournament special and gives it the potential to be in conversations with tournaments like March Madness and the World Cup.

Similar to both of those tournaments, there are teams in the WBC that everyone knows will not win. Panama is one of those teams. However, there is nothing stopping Panama from being 2023 Princeton or 2022 Australia and shocking some people.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Panama roster preview by Harrison Bruns

12. Cuba

The World Baseball Classic is the ultimate acceleration for Major League Baseball fans. After spending months idling, twiddling, and tweeting, we’ve got postseason-level baseball almost immediately after spring training begins.

Cuba is a country rife with baseball lineage, having churned out six Hall of Fame players. That isn’t even including the late, great right-hander Luis Tiant. “El Tiante” won two ERA titles and made three All-Star teams in his career, racking up 220 wins, a 3.30 ERA, and 54.8 fWAR.

Despite its rich baseball history, Cuba doesn’t have a strong contingent of current MLB players on this year’s roster. There are a few, along with some other MLB alumni, but the roster mostly consists of prospects and otherwise non-stateside professional ballplayers.

Cuba won Taichung’s Pool A back in 2023, though every team went 2-2. They also beat Australia in the quarterfinals before getting eliminated 14-2 by the runner-up United States in the semifinals. This year, Cuba returns to Pool A, but this time in San Juan against a stronger contingent of teams like Puerto Rico and Canada.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Cuba roster preview by Jordan Leandre

11. Netherlands

European countries aren’t often known for their historic baseball programs. But baseball (or honkbal) is popular in the Netherlands, and thanks to the Dutch Antilles, Team Netherlands also includes a slew of players from small islands with huge baseball followings.

Curaçao has produced 17 MLB players with an estimated population of just 180,000. That is similar to the population of Cary, NC, which hosts Team USA training camps.

Pair this with Aruba, the island that produced Xander Bogaerts, and players from the Netherlands who compete in foreign leagues or the domestic league, and there’s a solid team forming.

The Netherlands were history-making underdogs who went on runs to the WBC semi-finals in both 2013 and 2017. The 2023 WBC produced a crazy result, with all five teams in Pool A finishing 2-2, and the Netherlands missed out on advancing due to tiebreakers.

This time around, the Netherlands still has a strong group. While many of their best players are past their prime in MLB, they have plenty of guys with big league experience. Combine those players with a few promising youngsters making their way through the minors, and this is a turning point event that could usher in the next generation of Dutch stars.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Netherlands roster preview by Gabe Shumway

10. Colombia

Teams representing countries from around the world are preparing for what is expected to be the most popular World Baseball Classic in the event’s history.

2026 will mark Colombia’s third time in the competition after taking part in 2017 and 2023. However, in both of their appearances, the team failed to make it out of the group stage.

Colombia is in Group A this year, alongside Canada, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico. They will play their group stage games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.

With professional players from several leagues and a mix of veterans and young talent, can the Colombians make some noise at this year’s WBC?

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Colombia roster preview by Tommy Pelle

9. Korea

The last time we saw the World Baseball Classic in action, we were left with a movie moment. Bottom of the ninth, Japan leading 3-2, and Shohei Ohtani struck out his Angels teammate Mike Trout on a full count pitch.

It was the type of game that felt almost scripted, with a level of intensity that sticks with you long after the final out. To say the World Baseball Classic has been a success is an understatement. Over 1.3 million people attended a WBC game in 2023, and the final averaged over five million viewers.

The hype continues to build, as we are finally less than a month out from the tournament’s start and have official rosters to work with. Today, I am going to be focusing on Team Korea, who is trying to avoid a first-round elimination for the first time since 2009, when they finished runner-up.

Korea will be part of Pool C, with games being played in Tokyo, along with Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, and Japan, who is considered the tournament favorite by many.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team South Korea roster preview by Clay Snowden

8. Canada

Team Canada is eager to establish itself as a competitive force in this tournament. Canada has not previously achieved a high position in the standings in their WBC appearances, but in 2026, they have assembled a very strong team with plenty of current and former MLB players.

Canada has been placed in a competitive first-round group in this iteration of the WBC, sharing Pool A with Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, and Panama. They will play their preliminary round in Puerto Rico, playing one game against each of their opponents, as they look to make their mark on the tournament this time around. They have had some entertaining high-scoring games in the past, but they undoubtedly want more success going forward.

It’s worth noting that in the 2023 WBC, Canada shared a pool with the United States and Mexico, both of whom finished very strongly; each was eliminated by Samurai Japan, the U.S. in the final, and Mexico in the semifinal.

This isn’t to insinuate that their 2026 pool will be easier or weaker in any way, but they will have more of a chance to get past the first round of the tournament without having to play as many games against incredibly strong teams.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Canada roster preview by Ethan Hyatt

7. Italy

While the eyes of the world may be on Italy for the Winter Olympics over the next few days, a solid Team Italy roster is hoping to raise some eyebrows in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Italy has a history of surprising in the World Baseball Classic, shocking Canada with a 6-2 opening-round win in the 2009 WBC and keeping the Canadians from advancing in the process.

In 2013, Italy defeated Canada and Mexico in pool play to reach the second round before dropping out with consecutive losses to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

In 2023, Italy advanced again to the quarterfinals but was eliminated by eventual champion Japan.

This year, Italy faces another challenge in its early draw, being a part of Pool B centered in Houston that includes Brazil, Great Britain, Mexico, and the United States.

It can be argued that Italy will be an underdog when facing Mexico and the United States, while being a favorite against Brazil and Great Britain.

With the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals, Team Italy will have to not only win the games it’s supposed to win, but also see if it can bring back some WBC magic from previous years to grab an upset over a pair of teams that should have a decided home-field advantage inside Daikin Park.

So how does the Italian roster shape up? Let’s dive into the details.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Italy roster preview by Kevin Henry

6. Puerto Rico

It has been a long three years, but the World Baseball Classic has finally returned. Thus far in the lead-up to the tournament, Puerto Rico has been the talk of the town. Unfortunately for Team Puerto Rico and their fans, it has not been for good reasons.

As many of you know, Puerto Rico will not be entering the WBC at full strength. Hence, the reasoning behind the plethora of coverage regarding their team up to this point.

Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Javy Báez will all miss this year’s WBC. Lindor and Correa both failed to secure insurance for the tournament. Báez, on the other hand, will be serving a suspension for a failed drug test (positive for marijuana).

This has made Pool A much more interesting. Puerto Rico was the clear favorite, but now people have started counting them out. Despite missing several of their stars, Puerto Rico is still the team to beat in Pool A and should not be taken lightly by anyone.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Puerto Rico roster preview by Puerto Rico

5. Mexico

Spring training isn’t the only thing baseball fans have to look forward to in the coming weeks. In March, the World Baseball Classic returns with 20 teams vying for international glory.

It will be a chance for Team Mexico to build upon their most successful tournament finish ever. The squad has played in all five previous iterations of the event but made it no farther than the quarterfinals in their first four attempts.

2023, however, brought the team’s strongest finish yet. After advancing from pool play, they beat a strong Puerto Rico squad to move to the semifinals and were less than an inning away from a date in the finals before eventual champion Japan came back to break their hearts in the bottom of the ninth.

Team Mexico has its work cut out for it in making another strong run in the tournament.

Their pool includes a tough Team Italy as well as arguably the favorites to win it in Team USA, though Mexico is currently riding a three-game winning streak against their neighbors to the north.

Let’s take a look at who will be suiting up for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Mexico roster preview by Matt Carroll

4. Venezuela

All of the major players are looking to take the crown in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with Team USA and Team Japan as the clear favorites. Venezuela will be entering the tournament looking to play spoiler and take this year’s crown after having up-and-down showings in the previous iterations of this tournament.

In the original 2006 World Baseball Classic, Venezuela finished with a 3-3 record, failing to make it out of the second round of pool play. They followed up this performance in 2009 with a stellar 6-2 record, winning Pool C over powerhouses like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the United States. After knocking off Puerto Rico and the USA for a second time in the tournament, Venezuela was eliminated in the semi-finals by South Korea.

The next two WBCs for Team Venezuela were not nearly as kind. In 2013, they went 1-2 and failed to qualify for the second round. 2017 was an even worse showing, failing to win a game (0-3). In previous years, this showing would have caused Venezuela to then have to qualify for the next tournament, but due to the pandemic, it was announced that all 16 national teams would automatically qualify.

Venezuela stormed back with a vengeance in 2023, going 4-0 in pool play, with wins over the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Israel. They entered the quarterfinals in Miami, facing off against the United States of America. In a thrilling game that featured 16 runs, 23 hits, and over 10 future Hall of Famers, the USA eliminated Venezuela in a famously heartbreaking fashion.

Full rosters and coaching staffs have officially been released, and this just may be the best team Venezuela has ever rostered. Let’s take a look at who they are.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Venezuela roster preview by Taylor Greenhut

3. Dominican Republic

Only three countries have actually won the World Baseball Classic: Japan (2006, ’09, ’23), the USA (2017), and the Dominican Republic (2013).

In the last WBC, it was Samurai Japan and Team USA that battled it out in the final, while the Dominican squad failed to escape the first round. Despite that disappointing early exit, the DR remains one of the three favorites to win in 2026 – and perhaps the chip on their shoulder will be just the motivation they need.

It is also key to note that the Dominican team is in an easier pool this year. In 2023, they were grouped with Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Israel, and Nicaragua in Pool D.

This time around, they’re still in Pool D with Venezuela, Israel, and Nicaragua, but the Netherlands replaces Puerto Rico to round out the group. It was Venezuela and Puerto Rico that beat the DR in 2023, and the Puerto Rican team is a bigger threat than the Dutch squad (even without Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa).

So, which MLB stars will suit up for the Dominican Republic as the country tries to bounce back from a first-round exit and win its second WBC title? Here’s a look.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team DR roster preview by Leo Morgenstern 

2. Japan

The defending World Baseball Classic champions are gearing up for another run, aiming to capture their fourth title in tournament history.

Following two waves of roster announcements in late December and early January, manager Hirokazu Ibata officially unveiled Samurai Japan’s 29-man squad at a press conference on January 26.

Under Hideki Kuriyama, Japan stormed through the 2023 WBC undefeated, dispatching Italy, Mexico, and the USA in the knockout stage, as Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in dramatic fashion to seal a storybook ending. Kuriyama retired at the peak of his success, with the eight-time NPB All-Star Ibata assuming the helm later that year.

Since then, the senior national team has suffered just one loss under Ibata’s leadership, but it proved costly, as Chinese Taipei stunned Japan on home soil in the gold medal game of the 2024 WBSC Premier12.

With the 2026 WBC fast approaching, expectations will be high for Ibata to guide the Samurai back to the final at a minimum.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team Japan roster preview by Yuri Karasawa

1. USA

The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner. On February 5, the rosters for all 20 participating countries were announced, and the tournament itself kicks off in just over a week.

Reports and rumors about Team USA’s roster started trickling out last year, dating back to April, when manager Mark DeRosa announced that Aaron Judge would captain the squad. Once the World Series ended, commitments started coming fast and furious in the offseason, especially during the Winter Meetings.

Now, barring any last-minute drop-outs, we know the 30 players who will represent the USA. It’s a dangerous starting lineup and an equally imposing pitching staff.

The article below features every detail you need to know about Team USA ahead of the sixth World Baseball Classic.

Read Just Baseball’s complete Team USA roster preview by Leo Morgenstern