2026 World Baseball Classic: Unsurprisingly, Our Writers Pick Team USA In Pool B

World Baseball Network’s writers were asked to pick the two teams that would advance out of each pool, as well as which team would finish last in each pool, forcing them to play in the next World Baseball Classic Qualifier.

Here are the writers’ picks for Pool B, which features the United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil, with the games being played at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.

Picks to Win Pool B

United States – The United States is going into the tournament as the favorite, and they are simply too overpowered compared to other teams in their Pool. Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Nolan McLean are slated to start pool play games and should get plenty of run support. Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr. are some of the best players on the planet, and figure to do more than enough at the plate to win games. – Aaliyan Mohammed

Team USA will have Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal making one start each in Pool B. Their offense is clearly the best in the group, led by Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, and Bobby Witt Jr. The bullpen is also elite, with Mason Miller and David Bernard among the most notable names. – Julian Guilarte

The United States is a pretty obvious choice here. They easily have the best roster on both sides of the ball in Pool B. I’d hate to be a Great Britain hitter who has to face Tarik Skubal in the opening game. – Conor Liguori

Team USA is bringing one of the best pitching staffs ever assembled in the history of the sport with a lineup that is equally awe-inspiring. The team came close to beating Japan in the 2023 Finals with a significantly worse rotation, and Mark DeRosa should find a way to get it over the line this time. Anything short of a championship will be a massive disappointment. – Yuri Karasawa

When Secretariat went into the gate for the 1973 Belmont Stakes, he was the odds-on favorite at 1-10 — the lowest potential payout for a winning ticket. Secretariat, of course, went on to win the race by 31 lengths and the Triple Crown. Team USA, like Secretariat in that Belmont Stakes, is far and away the best team in Pool B, with elite pitching and a lineup so powerful it’s frightening. Pick against them at your own risk. – Leif Skodnick

The U.S. team might be the best baseball team ever assembled. They’ll make short work of Brazil and Great Britain, and shouldn’t have much trouble with Italy and Mexico. – Matt Tallarini

Picks to Finish Second in Pool B

Italy – The runner-up spot in this pool will likely come down to Italy and Mexico. Mexico has a talented team, but seemed to have pulled the short straw by drawing Skenes’ pool play start. McLean figures to start against Italy, and he is certainly the weakest of the USA starters. Italy’s offense, led by Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, should be good enough to keep Italy ahead of Mexico in the standings, but it figures to be a close matchup. – Aaliyan Mohammed

Italy will finish in second place because it has a solid offense with considerable upside. Vinny Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, and Kyle Teel will provide the power. The ace of the staff is Aaron Nola, and their bullpen has several arms with Major League Baseball experience. – Julian Guilarte

On paper, Mexico and Italy are neck and neck for the second spot in the group. However, if things roll their way, Italy has massive upside with explosive bats like Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, and Kyle Teel. Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen are solid MLB-caliber starters, and Dan Altavilla will be a big part of the bullpen coming off a dominant 2024 Premier12 with Team USA. – Yuri Karasawa

Mexico – I was tempted to take Italy, but Randy Arozarena and Jarren Duran can be the difference between a second and a last-place finish for Mexico. It helps when you have one of the best hitting catchers in MLB in Alejandro Kirk, who just faced enormous pressure in a seven-game World Series. – Conor Liguori

There may not be a lot of names familiar to Major League Baseball fans on the Mexico roster, but discount this team at your own risk. Benji Gil might be the best manager outside of MLB, having led his Charros de Jalisco to the 2026 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico and Caribbean Series titles, an appearance in the 2025 Serie del Rey, the 2025 LAMP title, and the 2025 Caribbean Series final. The pitching may be a bit thinner than in 2023, but the offense is there. – Leif Skodnick

Mexico nearly knocked out Japan in the semifinals in 2023. While the pitching staff isn’t as good this year, they should still make the quarterfinals under Benji Gil. – Matt Tallarini

Headed to the Next World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Brazil – Like Cuba in Pool A, Brazil lacks the Major League talent to compete in this pool. There are some solid players on this squad, but there have only ever been five players born in Brazil to reach the big leagues, and it shows. They went 3-1 at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in 2025, but this tournament is a different animal. – Aaliyan Mohammed

Brazil will finish last because they lack MLB talent on offense and on the mound. Bo Bichette was a monumental loss, although his brother Dante is on the team. Their arms also leave a lot to be desired. – Julian Guilarte

Even with Bo Bichette, Brazil would’ve faced an uphill battle to advance. There’s just not enough Major League experience on the roster. Joseph Contreras and Lucas Ramirez, both the sons of former MLBers, will be good storylines to follow. – Conor Liguori

Brazil deserves credit for assembling a roster largely made up of domestic amateurs and Japanese-Brazilians with industrial league experience. If they were to defeat Great Britain, it would mark a historic achievement for the program, but the odds are stacked against them. – Yuri Karasawa

It’ll be fun to watch Contreras and Ramirez, but it’s hard to see Brazil winning a game in this pool. They just don’t have the pitching or the bats, but baseball continues to grow in the soccer-mad country, and they’ll likely qualify for the next WBC. – Leif Skodnick

Brazil just doesn’t have enough talent to compete with the other four teams in Pool B. They’re another WBC cycle or two away from being competitive in pool play at the WBC. – Matt Tallarini

2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B Schedule
All times local

March 6
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park – TV: FS1
7 p.m. CST – United States vs. Brazil – Daikin Park – TV: FOX

March 7
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park – TV: FOX App
7 p.m. CST – Great Britain vs. United States – Daikin Park – TV: FOX

March 8
Noon CST – Great Britain vs. Italy – Daikin Park – TV: Tubi
7 p.m. CST – Brazil vs. Mexico – Daikin Park – TV: FS1

March 9 
Noon CST – Brazil vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park – TV: Tubi
7 p.m. CST – Mexico vs. United States – Daikin Park – TV: FOX

March 10
8 p.m. CST – Italy vs. United States – Daikin Park – TV: FS1

March 11  
6 p.m. CST – Italy vs. Mexico – Daikin Park – TV: Tubi

Photo: Aaron Judge connects for a single against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of an exhibition baseball game Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)