The 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic begins this week, and Team USA‘s schedule opens up with a matchup against Team Brazil on Friday, March 6, at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros.
The first round of the tournament features four pool play games. There are four pools with five teams apiece. The top two finishers in each group will move on to the quarterfinals, which begin on Friday, March 13. The Americans are among the favorites to win the event, along with Team Japan and Team Dominican Republic. An overview of the full tournament schedule can be found here. The full standings are posted now.
Team USA is coming off a runner-up finish at the 2023 event. The club went 3-1 in pool play to advance to the quarterfinals. A tight 9-7 win over Team Venezuela earned them a bid to the semifinals, where they destroyed Team Cuba, 14-2. Team USA fell to Team Japan in an epic championship game punctuated by then-teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout facing off in the final at-bat to decide the game.
The 2026 event will be the debut for Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw. Manager Mark DeRosa told reporters, including Jesse Rogers of ESPN, that the veteran lefty will be a “break glass in case of emergency” option. Former teammate Will Smith is a candidate to catch Kershaw if he pitches. The Team Brazil squad is led by Dante Bichette, Jr., the brother of Bo Bichette.
Team USA’s Schedule for the WBC Following Runner-Up Finish
The squad representing the stars and stripes will open up play against one of the last teams to make it into the tournament. Team Brazil toppled Team Germany in the Tucson Qualifier to land a spot in this year’s event. Manager Mark DeRosa shared that San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start Game 1.
Team Mexico, Team Italy, and Team Great Britain round out Pool B. All of the game will be at Daikin Park. Team USA’s pool is one of two groups that will play in the States. Pool D, headlined by Team Colombia and Team Dominican Republic, will play at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Here’s the full schedule for Team USA’s pool play action:
- March 6 @ Team Brazil at 8 p.m. ET
- March 7 vs. Team Great Britain at 8 p.m. ET
- March 9 vs. Team Mexico at 8 p.m. ET
- March 10 vs. Team Italy at 9 p.m. ET
Team USA won’t have to go far if it can advance to the quarterfinals. Those matchups will also take place at Daikin Park. The semifinals and finals will be at loanDepot Park.
All games will be aired by FOX Sports. That will include the regular FOX channel, along with FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes, Tubi, and the Fox Sports app. There’s also a free audio stream (in English) for every matchup.
Who Will Be on Team USA’s Roster?
The Americans will bring a superstar-laden squad to the tournament. The Team USA roster will include BOTH reigning Cy Young winners, with Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes forming a terrifying duo at the top of the rotation. The staff also features New York Mets electrifying rookie Nolan McLean. In the bullpen, flamethrowing Mason Miller will likely function as the team’s closer. David Bednar and Griffin Jax are also in the mix, with Gabe Speier providing a lefty look.
The offense will be led by three of the top four vote getters for the 2025 American League MVP, with Aaron Judge joining Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr. in the middle of the lineup. Gunnar Henderson, Alex Bregman, and Bryce Harper will round out the infield. Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Arsmtrong will be next to Judge in the outfield.
Here’s the full roster for Team USA:
Hitters
- Cal Raleigh
- Will Smith
- Alex Bregman
- Ernie Clement
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Bryce Harper
- Gunnar Henderson
- Brice Turang
- Bobby Witt Jr.
- Roman Anthony
- Byron Buxton
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
- Aaron Judge
- Kyle Schwarber
Pitchers
- David Bednar
- Matthew Boyd
- Garrett Cleavinger
- Clay Holmes
- Griffin Jax
- Brad Keller
- Clayton Kershaw
- Nolan McLean
- Mason Miller
- Paul Skenes
- Tarik Skubal
- Gabe Speier
- Michael Wacha
- Logan Webb
- Garrett Whitlock
- Ryan Yarbrough
Kershaw is the lone member of the club who isn’t an active MLB player. Obtaining insurance had been an issue for him while in the big leagues.
Team USA Schedule and Roster Update for World Baseball Classic 2026