Brazil punched its ticket to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with a 6–4 win over Germany in the WBC Qualifier final this past March in Tucson, Arizona. The victory marks Brazil’s return to the global stage after a 13-year absence, and only their second-ever appearance in the WBC.
Their first and only previous WBC participation came in 2013, when Brazil competed in the Tokyo pool. There, they nearly pulled off one of the most shocking upsets in tournament history, taking a 3–2 lead into the eighth inning against powerhouse Japan before ultimately falling late. Brazil finished that tournament 0–3 and was relegated back to the qualifiers. After failed attempts to rejoin the WBC in 2017 and 2023, the Brazilians have finally returned — now with a revamped roster and fresh ambition with the new generation of Brazil baseball taking on a bigger role.
Brazil’s Bichette Brothers ????????
For the first time in 10 years, Dante and Bo intend to play together for the Brazilian national team in the 2026 WBC pic.twitter.com/jVtfx8uUm3
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) April 30, 2025
Brazil will compete in Pool B, hosted in Houston, Texas, where they’ll face a daunting slate of opponents: the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Great Britain. Brazil opens the tournament in Houston against WBC favorites USA on March 6.
With two semifinalists from the 2023 edition in the group, Brazil faces an uphill battle to reach the quarterfinals. While advancement would be a monumental achievement, the more realistic and critical objective is to avoid finishing last — which would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2030 World Baseball Classic. To do that, Brazil will need to target wins against Italy and Great Britain, both of which will be pivotal matchups.
Brazil faces a steep challenge in Pool B, but this is clearly a program on the rise. With Bo Bichette anchoring the offense, Dylan Lee closing games, and young talent emerging across the roster, Brazil is looking to pull off an upset.
A win against Italy or Great Britain would be a massive step forward.
Bo Bichette Leads the Way – Shortstop Bo Bichette headlines the Brazilian roster. Eligible through his Brazilian mother, the 27-year-old is Brazil’s lone current MLB position player. While 2025 has been his least productive full season to date — hitting .270/.310/.427 with 12 home runs — advanced metrics suggest he’s due for positive regression. His BABIP is 41 points below his previous career low, and his underlying contact and power metrics remain strong. Bichette will be the centerpiece of the offense and the undisputed leader of this team.
Leonardo Reginatto, 3B – One of the top performers in Mexico this year, Reginatto is enjoying a breakout season with Tigres de Quintana Roo, slashing .298/.359/.542 with a career-best 14 home runs. A lock to start at third base, he’ll provide protection behind Bichette in the lineup and serve as a second key run producer.
Lucas Rojo, 2B – A veteran presence who’s represented Brazil for years, Rojo was excellent at the WBCQ, going 6-for-16 with four RBIs and two doubles. Playing domestically in Brazil, he posted an .812 OPS in the 2024 Brazilian Baseball Cup and is regarded as one of Brazil’s best defenders. He’ll solidify the middle infield.
Victor Coutinho, 1B – Primarily an outfielder throughout his national team career, Coutinho has shifted to first base in 2025 while playing in Italy’s Serie A with Nettuno. He’s posted a strong .282/.406/.577 slash line with 4 HR. He was productive in the WBCQ, driving in five runs in four games, and his positional versatility will be vital.
OF Victor Coutinho is off to a fast start in Italy this season. He is second in Serie A in HR with 3 and has an OPS of 1.019. He’ll be on the Brazil roster at the 2026 World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/DQCdSsh5Ql
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) May 19, 2025
Gabriel Gomes, C – With Yan Gomes — the best Brazilian-born player in history — likely retired from international duty, 21-year-old Reds prospect Gabriel Gomes is the frontrunner to take over behind the plate. Though he’s hitting just .172 in the Arizona Complex League, he showed promise in the WBCQ and in domestic play. He represents Brazil’s best available option at catcher.
Osvaldo Carvalho, DH – Carvalho plays in Brazil and posted a monster slash line of .429/.474/.743 with a home run in 2024 in Brazil. He went 2-for-4 at the WBCQ and is expected to take on a larger offensive role in 2026.