Connor Whalen ‘28

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on February 12, 2026

The 2023 World Baseball Classic wrote all-time, classic moments into the history books of baseball: Trea Turner’s grand slam against Venezuela, a Czech electrician striking out Shohei Ohtani—the world’s best baseball player, Mexico’s run led by Randy Arozarena, and the unforgettable at-bat in which Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to win the title for Japan. This year’s Classic brings a deeper, more talented pool of teams, and should be an exciting tournament to watch from the pool play to the championship. The tournament features 20 teams from around the world, split up into four pools of five. The teams play a round-robin series of games, and the two top teams from each pool advance to the knockout phase. The eight teams are then narrowed down to one winner in a single-elimination bracket. 

The World Baseball Classic is the perfect tournament both for diehard fans and for casual fans of the sport. For Americans there is a built in rooting interest—the United States or the team representing one’s ethnic background—making the tournament engaging and enjoyable. The former not only get to watch the biggest stars of the sport compete against each other in a high stakes, competitive setting, but also get to see exciting prospects get a chance to shine on a big stage, former Major League Baseball fan favorites take the field years after retirement to represent their country, and simply some of the best, high-quality baseball that one could possibly watch. 

Pool A is possibly the most difficult of the pools to predict, as it contains no clear favorite, but the teams are about as even as they possibly can be. I predict Canada to win the pool, with Puerto Rico in second place and also advancing, leaving behind Colombia, Panama, and Cuba. Canada has the most complete team of the group, with major league experience in every area of the roster. Puerto Rico would, in any other year, be the favorite, but many of their star players—such as the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor—are not participating this year. 

Team USA is no doubt the favorite to win Pool B, but it will by no means whatsoever be a cake walk. Mexico and Italy are great teams, both with dangerous lineups. Great Britain features New York Yankees’ star Jazz Chisholm and other MLB players. I predict the U.S. to still come out on top, and Italy to take second, upsetting Mexico and knocking them out early. Barring any miracles, Great Britain and Brazil will take No. 4 and No. 5 and be sent home packing. 

Pool C is Japan’s for the taking, the only other relevant team being Korea. I predict Korea to take second, followed by Taiwan, Australia, and Czechia; this group is, without a doubt, the most predictable of the bunch.

Pool D will be the most interesting to watch. The Dominican Republic should win the pool, as its 2026 squad is as well-regarded as any in the tournament. Their lineup is most likely the best in the world, headlined by stars such as Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodriguez, among others. Venezuela, however, should be talked about just as much as any other nation. Led by Ronald Acuna, Jr., the Venezuelan lineup is dangerous from top to bottom, and their pitching staff is among the best in the world. The D.R. and Venezuela should absolutely tear this pool apart, though it is a shame the Netherlands—a fun team consisting of stars from former Dutch territories Curacao and Aruba—will not stand a chance, as they could have in other pools. Israel and Nicaragua round out the last two spots and will be no match for the Latin American powerhouses. 

I predict the U.S., Italy (my favorite dark horse pick this year), Venezuela (who I predict, rather unpopularly, to dethrone Ohtani and reigning world champion Japan), and the D. R. will win their pools. The U.S. should make the final rather easily this year, as its three biggest threats—Japan, the D.R., and Venezuela—all lie on the other side of the bracket. The D.R. will, in my view, be taking their place in the final against the U.S., though Venezuela should absolutely not be underestimated. I predict them also to defeat the U.S. in the final. The U.S. will use either Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal, should they make the final; they are undeniably the two best pitchers in the world. However, Dominican Christopher Sanchez is as good as any pitcher on the planet outside of those two, and can give his nation a fighting chance. The Dominican lineup is simply too good and will overpower any opposing team standing in their way. Regardless of who wins, however, the tournament will feature great storylines and great baseball, and should continue its growth in popularity this year, adding more global awareness and fandom to the sport of baseball. Be sure to tune in!