The World's Best: 2026 World Baseball Classic Rosters Revealed

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The wait is over for baseball fans across the globe. On Thursday night, February 5, 2026, World Baseball Classic Inc. officially unveiled the 30-man rosters for all 20 competing nations. This year’s tournament, which kicks off on March 5, features an unprecedented collection of talent, including an all-time high of 78 MLB All-Stars and 6 MLB MVPs.

For the first time in history, the reigning MLB MVPs (Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani) and reigning Cy Young winners (Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal) will all participate in the same tournament.

Team USA: “The Dream Team”

Captain Aaron Judge leads a roster that many analysts are calling the strongest in U.S. history.

The Rotation: A “murderer’s row” of arms featuring Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, Joe Ryan, and the legendary Clayton Kershaw in what may be his final competitive appearance.
The Lineup: Features MVPs Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt, alongside superstars Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., and Corbin Carroll.
Surprise Addition: Blue Jays utility man Ernie Clement secured a spot after a late-season breakout in 2025.

Samurai Japan: The Defending Champs

Samurai Japan aims for a fourth title with a roster stacked with NPB MVPs and MLB superstars.

Two-Way Terror: Shohei Ohtani returns to headline both the lineup and the pitching staff.
The Arms: Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi join NPB stars Tomoyuki Sugano and Hiroto Takahashi.
Power Bats: New MLB arrivals Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto anchor the middle of the order.

Dominican Republic: The Redemption Squad

After a disappointing 2023, the D.R. has assembled a roster that could rival Team USA for pure star power.

Lineup: Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodríguez.
The Ace: Sandy Alcantara returns to lead the rotation following his recovery from surgery.
Veteran Presence: Ketel Marte and Manny Machado provide the veteran leadership for manager Albert Pujols.

Pool Assignments & Key Players

Pool	Location	Key Teams	Players to Watch
Pool A	San Juan, PR	Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada	Nolan Arenado (PR), Yoán Moncada (Cuba), Josh Naylor (Canada)
Pool B	Houston, TX	USA, Mexico, Italy	Randy Arozarena (MEX), Vinnie Pasquantino (ITA), Aaron Judge (USA)
Pool C	Tokyo, Japan	Japan, Korea, Australia	Jung Hoo Lee (KOR), Travis Bazzana (AUS), Shohei Ohtani (JPN)
Pool D	Miami, FL	DR, Venezuela, Netherlands	Ronald Acuña Jr. (VEN), Ozzie Albies (NED), Juan Soto (DR)

Roster Notables

Australia: Features the 2025 #1 overall MLB pick Travis Bazzana, who is expected to lead off for the Aussies.
Italy: Bolstered by young phenom Jac Caglianone and Phillies ace Aaron Nola (making his WBC debut).
Great Britain: Yankees All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. headlines a roster looking to repeat their 2023 Cinderella energy.
Brazil: Returns to the WBC for the first time since 2013, featuring Dante Bichette Jr. and 17-year-old pitching prospect Pietro Albanez.
Czechia: The fan favorites return with a roster of local legends and free agent Terrin Vavra.