The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner, with the sixth iteration of this thrilling tournament set to begin the first week of March.
Some of baseball’s biggest stars will compete under the bright lights, including Shohei Ohtani (Japan), Aaron Judge (USA), and Juan Soto (Dominican Republic). These three nations have something that no other national team can claim: a WBC title. And in Japan’s case, three of them.
Twenty teams are vying for the 2026 title, though their aspirations are built on different history. Some are still vying for their first WBC win. Others are hoping to recapture success that has eluded them since the first few tournaments. Some are out for revenge following a string of recent disappointments.
Now is a good time to acquaint yourself with each nation’s history at the World Baseball Classic. Here’s a look at the past results and memorable moments for all 20 teams set to compete at this year’s event.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2023)
A WBC mainstay, Australia’s best result occurred in 2023, with a seventh-place finish that stands as the nation’s only trip to the quarterfinals. Alex Hall’s four-RBI performance sparked a decisive victory over Czechia to propel Australia out of the pool stage for the first time. But the Aussies reached the end of the road in the quarterfinals, suffering a skinny one-run loss to Cuba. Dave Nilsson — the first Australian player to appear in an MLB All-Star Game, back in 1999 — has managed the national team in its two prior trips to the tournament.
Previous appearances: 1 (2013)
Best finish: Pool stage
Brazil went winless in its first appearance in the WBC in 2013, but the national team still held its own. In the opening game of the tournament, Brazil nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in international baseball history, carrying a four-run lead over Japan into the eighth inning. While the Japanese rallied to win, the game proved that Brazil — managed by MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin — wasn’t a pushover. After failing to qualify for the next two tournaments, the Brazilian team earned its second WBC bid in 2026 thanks to a 3-1 record in qualifying play last March.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Pool stage
For a team still looking for its first trip out of the pool stage, Canada has made plenty of noise in the World Baseball Classic over the years. In the inaugural tournament, the Canadians won a pair of games, including a milestone victory over the US. Former AL MVP Justin Morneau and three-time MLB All-Star Jason Bay made for a dynamic duo in the heart of Canada’s lineup, but a tie-breaker prevented Canada from moving on. Then, in ‘23, the Canadians dropped a win-or-go-home game against Mexico as another team loaded with MLB All-Stars — like Freddie Freeman and Josh Naylor — fell just short of the quarterfinals.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2013)
Chinese Taipei’s best tournament showing came in 2013, which remains the only time that it has advanced past the first round. Wins over Australia and South Korea surged Chinese Taipei to the top of Pool B, and it was oh-so-close to a berth in the semifinals, too. The team held a one-run lead in the ninth inning against Japan, the two-time defending tournament champions. But Japan rallied to tie it and then tacked on another run in the 10th to steal the victory. Since then, Chinese Taipei did win a pair of games in ‘23, but chaos in Group A — all five teams finished with identical records — led to a tiebreaker that sent them home.
Previous appearances: 2 (2023, 2017)
Best finish: Pool stage
Colombia’s first trip to the WBC occurred in 2017, and it’s qualified for every tournament since. While the Colombians are still waiting for their first quarterfinal berth — winning just one game apiece in each of the last two Classics — they’ve played better than their record would indicate. In ‘17, Colombia took both the United States and the Dominican Republic to extra innings. Former MLB All-Stars Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran made for a dominant rotation, with Teheran blanking Canada to lead Colombia to its first WBC win. Then, in 2023, Colombia began tournament play with a stirring victory over Mexico, a team that would wind up advancing to the semifinals.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Runners-up (2006)
Cuba made a statement in the inaugural tournament, finishing as the runners-up after falling to Japan in a see-saw championship game. Several members of the ‘06 Cuban team would go on to become some of the most-decorated players in the history of the World Baseball Classic. Frederich Cepeda — who played in the first four tournaments — is the all-time leader in hits (32) and RBIs (23), while Alfredo Despaigne is the all-time leader in home runs, with seven. Cuba has advanced out of pool play in each of the first five tournaments, including in ‘23, when MLB standouts like Luis Robert Jr. and Yoan Moncada fueled a semifinals berth.
Previous appearances: 1 (2023)
Best finish: Pool stage
These loveable underdogs burst onto the scene at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. It was remarkable that Czechia — a team of teachers, sales reps, and firefighters — even qualified in the first place, defeating heavily-favored Spain in qualifying. Then, in the nation’s very first WBC game, the Czechs completed an improbable ninth-inning comeback when Martin Muzik launched a go-ahead, three-run home run to stun China. It was a historic moment for Czechia, a country that hasn’t produced a Major Leaguer since at least 1952. Though it would not win another game, Czechia still earned an automatic bid to the 2026 tournament thanks to its fourth-place finish in pool play.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Champions (2013)
The Dominican Republic stood atop the baseball world in 2013, waltzing through tournament play with a perfect 8-0 record while capturing the nation’s first WBC title. Five Dominican players earned recognition on that year’s All-WBC team, including Robinson Canó, who was named the tournament’s MVP. In the championship game, five pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout of Puerto Rico. Fernando Rodney — the Classic’s all-time saves leader — closed out his seventh save of the tournament to clinch the championship.
Team D.R. hasn’t replicated that dominance in any other tournament, though it’s still produced plenty of memorable moments. For instance, in ‘17, Nelson Cruz launched a go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning against Team USA, giving the Dominicans a stirring victory in pool play. Plus, this is a team that tends to be loaded with All-Star talent. Recent stars to suit up for the Dominican Republic include Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Julio Rodríguez, with many more joining them in 2026.
Previous appearances: 1 (2023)
Best finish: Pool stage
Great Britain made its debut appearance in 2023, and though it won only one game, its first foray into the tournament was a memorable one. The GB squad leaned into several popular tropes, miming sipping tea after clutch hits and celebrating home runs with a crown and a robe. The British earned their first WBC victory over Colombia, with Harry Ford — then one of baseball’s top catching prospects — sparking a seven-run outburst with a home run. Thanks to that lone victory, Great Britain finished in the top four in pool play and automatically qualified for the 2026 tournament, where stars like Jazz Chisholm Jr. are set to join the team.
Previous appearances: 2 (2023, 2017)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2017)
Israel’s success at the 2017 World Baseball Classic was nothing short of stunning. The Israelis were heavy underdogs in their first tournament, but you wouldn’t have realized that watching them: Israel won all three of its games in pool play, including a 10-inning victory over Korea, one of the top-ranked teams in the field. Led by a fun-spirited mascot — the Mensch on the Bench — and Pool A MVP Ryan Lavarnway, Israel breezed into the quarterfinals. Despite beginning the next round with a win over Cuba, the dream ride ended against Japan a few days later. In 2023, Israel failed to capture the same magic when a roster headlined by MLB talent like Joc Pederson and Dean Kremer failed to make it out of the group stage.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2013, 2023)
Italy authored a defining moment early in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, giving the national team the boost it needed on the heels of two 10th-place finishes in ‘06 and ‘09. Anthony Rizzo smacked a go-ahead two-run double in the ninth inning to stun Mexico in the opening game of the tournament in ‘13, setting up the Italians for a second-round berth.
They returned to the quarterfinals 10 years later, in 2023, this time by way of a tiebreaker. In doing so, the Italians emerged as one of the tournament’s feel-good stories, embracing a mustache trend that even MLB Hall of Famer and team skipper Mike Piazza got in on. Ultimately, Italy settled for an eighth-place finish after a six-run loss to Japan, the eventual champions. In fact, Team Italy has lost to the eventual tournament champs each time that it’s advanced past the first round.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Champions (2023, 2009, 2006)
Japan is the most successful nation in the history of the World Baseball Classic, winning three titles. That resounding success began immediately, with Japan winning each of the first two championships. Daisuke Matsuzaka established himself as a dominant pitcher on the international stage, capturing tournament MVP honors 2006 and 2009, going 6-0 across the two tournaments. Other early standouts included Ichiro Suzuki, whose go-ahead two-run single in the 10th inning of the ‘09 championship game broke a deadlock with South Korea.
After a few near misses — including a third-place finish in 2017 — Japan once again cemented itself as the premier international baseball outfit behind a new generation of stars in 2023. The Japanese team went a perfect 7-0, buoyed by an out-of-this-world performance from Shohei Ohtani. The two-way superstar earned MVP honors after hitting .435 and pitching to a 1.36 ERA; his strikeout of his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout closed out Japan’s third title in truly epic fashion.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Runners-up (2009)
Korea established itself as a legitimate title contender across the first two iterations of the WBC, beginning with a third-place finish in the inaugural tournament. Outfielder Lee Jong-beom — nicknamed “Son of the Wind” for his speed — and former Dodgers standout Chan Ho Park earned All-WBC honors. Then, in ‘09, Korea advanced to the title game where it battled Japan in an instant classic. Lee Bum-ho tied the game in the ninth inning with a base hit off Yu Darvish, helping the Koreans stave off elimination in dramatic fashion. But they lost that game in the 10th inning and haven’t found much success since; Korea has finished no higher than ninth place in each of the last three tournaments.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Third place (2023)
Mexico captured everyone’s attention with a thrilling run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, a joy ride that saw the national team claw its way to the semifinals. Randy Arozarena — who was born in Cuba but later became a Mexican citizen — showed off his knack for the spotlight with another big-time performance. Arozarena produced a series of clutch hits and jaw-dropping catches, including a nonchalant home run robbery that stands as one of the best moments in WBC history. Mexico won four games en route to a third-place finish in the 2023 tournament, equaling its win total in the previous three tournaments combined. Team Mexico has only survived pool play one other time, advancing to the second round in 2009.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Fourth palace (2017, 2013)
The Kingdom of the Netherlands authored one of the WBC’s early defining moments, when Shairon Martis tossed the tournament’s first no-hitter against Panama in 2006. In ‘09, the Netherlands made headlines again, shocking the baseball world with a pair of upsets over the Dominican Republic — the latter via an epic 11th-inning rally to down the tournament favorites. The Dutch made consecutive trips to the semifinals in ’13 and ’17, with the 2017 WBC proving to be particularly heartbreaking: Their dream ride came to an end via an 11th-inning walk-off. There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding this team in 2026, with recently-minted MLB Hall of Famer Andruw Jones serving as the new manager.
Previous appearances: 1 (2023)
Best finish: Pool stage
Nicaragua made its first WBC appearance in 2023, winning three consecutive games in qualifiers to secure a spot in the tournament. But the national team struggled in pool play, dropping all four of its games while being outscored 22-4. Nicaragua will look for better results in the ‘26 tournament, and it will have a new man at the helm: Dusty Baker, the eighth-winningest manager in MLB history, recently took over as Nicaragua’s skipper.
Previous appearances: 3 (2023, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Pool stage
While it qualified for the first two WBCs, Panama struggled in each tournament. The national team posted an 0-5 record across its first two appearances, failing to score a single run in ‘09. After a two-tournament hiatus, Panama qualified for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where it fared much better. Team Panama won two games, including its first WBC victory, a 12-5 romp over Chinese Taipei fueled by former MLB players Rubén Tejada and Jonathan Araúz. A five-way tie in Pool A saw Panama finishing in fourth place — not enough to advance to the quarterfinals, but enough to qualify for the ‘26 event.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Runners-up (2017, 2013)
Puerto Rico is always a threat in the WBC, advancing out of the pool stage in all five tournaments. Twice, it finished one win shy of a World Baseball Classic title. In 2013, the Puerto Ricans denied Japan a potential three-peat with a rousing semifinals victory, fueled by a two-run home run from Alex Rios. But their offense fell silent in the championship game, recording just three hits in a loss to the Dominican Republic. In ‘17, Puerto Rico looked like a juggernaut, fueled by its dynamite infield that included Carlos Correa, Javy Baéz, and Francisco Lindor. They carried a perfect 7-0 record into the title game, after Eddie Rosario’s walk-off sacrifice fly eliminated the Netherlands in the semifinals. Once again, though, their title aspirations slipped away with a shutout loss in the championship, this time to the U.S.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Champions (2017)
Few teams, if any, have produced more iconic WBC moments than Team USA. David Wright earned his “Captain America” nickname thanks to a walk-off single in a win-or-go-home bout with Puerto Rico in ‘09, and later added a go-ahead grand slam to down Italy in pool play in ‘13. A decade later, Trea Turner did his best Captain America impression, launching a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning against Venezuela, keeping the Americans alive in ‘23.
But the U.S. had its marquee moment in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, when it won the nation’s first title. That year’s tournament is best remembered for an incredible home-run robbery from Adam Jones, who scaled the center-field fence at Petco Park to rob his then-Orioles co-star, Manny Machado. After the Americans eliminated the Dominican Republic — the reigning champions — they took care of Japan and Puerto Rico to capture the title. Marcus Stroman, who tossed six scoreless innings in the championship game, was named the tournament MVP.
Previous appearances: 5 (2023, 2017, 2013, 2009, 2006)
Best finish: Third place (2009)
Venezuela appeared in the inaugural WBC in 2006, but it didn’t truly put itself on the map until three years later. A cast of stars — including Félix Hernández, Miguel Cabrera, and Magglio Ordóñez — fueled a third-place finish in ’09, headlined by a monumental victory over the U.S. in the quarterfinals. However, the Venezuelans saw their championship dreams end in the semifinals, and they haven’t advanced that far in any tournament since. Venezuela was six outs away from a return to the semis in ’23, but an eighth-inning lead slipped away in another high-intensity matchup with the U.S. Today’s generation of Venezuelan stars, like Jackson Chourio and Ronald Acuña Jr., will hope to get Venezuela over the hump.
