TUCSON, Ariz. – After a five year pushback due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Veterans Memorial Stadium at the Kino Sports Complex will host the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers with Colombia, China, Brazil, and Germany participating at the event from March 2-6.
Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua have qualified for the 2026 WBC.
Colombia enters the tournament ranked No. 13 in the World Baseball Rankings, published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Brazil at No. 23, China at No. 20, and Germany at No. 17. Nicaragua sits at No. 16, while Chinese Taipei holds the No. 2 spot.
All WBC Qualifier games will stream live on the World Baseball Classic website, as well as on its Facebook page, MLB.TV, and YouTube channel, with coverage running through the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
According to David Venn of MLB.com, the 2026 World Baseball Classic will featured Pool D games at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6-11. The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands will compete, along with a nation from the Tucson qualifier, which will be one of China, Germany, Colombia or Brazil.
Veterans Memorial Stadium was originally set to host the WBCQ in 2020 over two consecutive weeks, featuring 12 teams. However, World Baseball Classic Inc. and Major League Baseball officials postponed the event, ultimately rescheduling for 2022.
Argentina replaced the Philippines, who had been slated to participate in the 2020 WBCQ before the postponement.
Three teams—Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Nicaragua—made their World Baseball Classic debut in 2023 after qualifying through the 2022 WBC qualifiers. The events were held at Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg, Germany, and Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama.
The first-ever WBC qualifiers in 2012 featured Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Spain, and Thailand. None of these teams had participated in the 2009 tournament. The World Baseball Classic did not have a qualification system for its first two editions in 2006 and 2009, making 2012 the first year teams had to qualify.
The WBCQ event at the Taipei Dome in Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan drew 142,526 fans for all of the Chinese Taipei games from February 21-25, a significant boost in attendance from previous years.
The WBC qualifiers at the Taipei Dome drew over 100,000 fans, the most at any qualifier site since the event began in 2012. Chinese Taipei’s game against South Korea on Nov. 13, 2024, had 39,000 in attendance, while 25,000 watched them face the Dominican Republic. The last WBC qualifiers in 2022 at Armin-Wolf-Arena and Estadio Rod Carew drew 26,080 fans combined.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic was the first to feature 20 teams. The qualifiers showcase baseball’s global expansion, with two spots still open for the 2026 tournament. The growing field highlights the sport’s continued development in new markets.
Starting Pitching Matchups For Day 1 2025 WBCQ At Veterans Memorial Stadium
Sunday, March 2, 2025
China (Alan Carter) vs. Germany (Markus Solbach) – 1 p.m. EST
Brazil (Bo Takahashi) vs. Colombia (Julio Teheran) – 8 p.m. EST
Colombia 2025 WBCQ Official Roster
Pitchers
Adrian Almeida (Cardenales de Lara)
Danis Correa (Las Vegas Aviators – Triple-A – Athletics)
Luis Escobar (Tigres de Cartagena)
Pedro Garcia (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Rio Gomez (Wei Chuan Dragons)
Yapson Gomez (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Jean Herrera (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
David Lorduy (Daytona Tortugas – Low-A – Cincinnati Reds)
Carlos Ocampo (Tigres de Aragua)
Guillermo Moscoso (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Jhon Romero (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Reiver Sanmartin (Cincinnati Reds)
Julio Teheran (New York Mets)
Victor Vargas (Milwaukee Milkmen – American Association)
Ezequiel Zabaleta (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Catchers
Jair Camargo (Minnesota Twins)
Guillermo Quintana (Tigres de Cartagena)
Carlos Martinez (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Infielders
Reynaldo Rodriguez (Charros de Jalisco)
Gio Urshela (Athletics)
Francisco Acuna (Altoona Curve – Double-A – Pittsburgh Pirates)
Michael Arroyo (Everett AquaSox – High-A – Seattle Mariners)
Fabian Pertuz (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Jose Ramos (Arizona Complex League – San Francisco Giants)
Outfielders
Brayan Buelvas (Midland RockHounds – Double-A – Athletics)
Dilson Herrera (Venados de Mazatlán)
Jesus Marriaga (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Harold Ramirez (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Manager José Mosquera will have pitching coach Dayán Díaz, hitting coach Jair Fernández, bench coach Jhonathan Solano, first base coach Jaime Del Valle, and third base coach Ronald Ramírez on his staff for the 2025 WBCQ.
Germany 2025 WBCQ Official Roster
MLBD – MLB Draft League
ACL – Arizona Complex League
Pitchers
Jaden Agassi (Mahoning Valley Scrappers – MLBD)
Jose Cedano De Leon (Guggenberger Legionare Regensburg)
Jake Gilbert (ACL Reds – Rookie Level)
Marcel Giraud (Bonn Capitals)
Simon Gross (Bonn Capitals)
Mark Harrison (Untouchables Paderborn)
Sascha Koch (Bonn Capitals)
Jordan Martinson (Kane County Cougars)
Christian Pedrol (Guggenberger Legionare Regensburg)
Niklas Rimmel (Bonn Capitals)
Sven Schueller (Heidenheim Heideköpfe)
Markus Solbach (Bonn Capitals)
Tommy Sommer (Kane County Cougars)
Duke Von Schamann (Heidenheim Heideköpfe)
Nick Wittgren (Aguilas Cibaenas)
Catchers
Vincent Ahrens (Cologne Cardinals)
Yannic Walther (ACL Brewers – Rookie Level)
Infielders
Simon Baumgardt (University of Notre Dame)
Finn Bergmann (Untouchables Paderborn)
Simon Baeumer (Guggenberger Legionare Regensburg)
Eric Brenk (Bonn Capitals)
Tristan Russell (University of Houston)
Alex Schmidt (Guggenberger Legionare Regensburg)
Outfielders
Lucas Dunn (San Antonio Missions – AA – San Diego Padres)
Lou Helmig (Guggenberger Legionare Regensburg)
Shawn Larry (Heidenheim Heideköpfe)
Donald Lutz (Brisbane Bandits)
Luca Rammelmann (Untouchables Paderborn)
Germany is managed by Jendrick Speer, with a coaching staff that includes bench coach Maurice Wilhelm, hitting coach Alexander Baham, pitching coach Clemens Cichocki, bullpen coach Mike Bolsenbroek, infield coach Octavio Medina, and bullpen catcher Maurice Bendrien.
Brazil 2025 WBCQ Official Roster
CBB – Campeonato Brasileiro de Beisebol
Pitchers
Tiago Da Silva (Tigres de Aragua)
Caio De Araujo (Alabama State University)
Murilo Gouvea (Atibaia – CBB)
Hugo Kanabushi (Marília – CBB)
Pedro Lemos (Modesto Nuts – Low-A Seattle Mariners)
Joao Gabriel Marostica (Tochigi Golden Braves)
Oscar Massaki Nakaoshi (Adelaide Giants)
Rafael Ohashi (Vancouver Canadians – High-A Toronto Blue Jays)
Eric Pardinho (Buffalo Bisons – Triple-A Toronto Blue Jays)
Enzo Yusuke Sawayama (Yamaha)
Bo Takahashi (Saitama Seibu Lions)
Heitor Tokar (Dorados de Chihuahua)
Arthur Tsujiguchi (Wellness University – Japan)
Hector Villarroel (Atibaia – CBB)
Catchers
Gabriel Carmo (Cougars de Montigny)
Gabriel Gomes (Dominican Summer League – Cincinnati Reds – Rookie Level)
Matheus Lelis (Nippon Blue Jays – CBB)
Infielders
Osvaldo Carvalho (Marília – CBB)
Vitor Ito (Marillia – CBB)
Felipe Mitsuro Mizukosi (Gecebs – CBB)
Tiago Nishiyama (Nittaidai – Nippon Sports Science University)
Leonardo Reginatto (Tigres de Quintana Roo)
Lucas Rojo (Kitakyushu Shimonoseki Phoenix)
Outfielders
Dante Bichette Jr. (Cafe Bros)
Gabriel Maciel (Sussex County Miners)
Victor Mascai (Tochigi Golden Braves)
Lucas Ramirez (Arizona Complex League – Los Angeles Angels – Rookie Level)
Daniel Yonemura (Marilia – CBB)
Brazil is managed by Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto for the 2025 WBCQ and will have bench coach Thiago Caldeira, hitting coach Reinaldo Sato, running coach Paulo Orlando, pitching coach Andre Rienzo, and bullpen coach Kleber Ojima on his coaching staff.
China 2025 WBCQ Official Roster
*Indicates Two-Way Player
Pitchers
Dancairang Hua (Guangdong Leopards)
*Yuyang Li (Sichuan Dragons)
Guangxuan Sun (Tianjin Lions)
Yicong Sun (Augustana University)
Xudi Suo (Beijing Tigers)
Xiang Wang (Shanghai Red Eagles)
Haizheng Wu (Beijing Tigers)
Jeremy Wu-Yelland (Greenville Drive – High-A – Boston Red Sox)
Jian Yi (Guangdong Leopards)
*Mingxin Zhang (Shandong Blue Whales)
Yanlun Zhang (Lake Country Dockhounds)
Lun Zhao (MLB Development Center China)
Wei Zhao (Sichuan Dragons)
Jie Zhou (Tianjin Lions)
Catchers
Ning Li (Shanghai Red Eagles)
Shuai Wang (Tianjin Lions)
Yi Zhou (Guangdong Leopards)
Infielders
Jiaji Chen (Tianjin University of Sport)
Tianyuan Hu (Beijing Tigers)
Yun Lu (Beijing Tigers)
Jinjun Luo (Guangdong Leopards)
Qirui Wu (Guangdong Leopards)
Jin Yang (Shanghai Red Eagles)
Outfielders
Pei Liang (Beijing Tigers)
Xudong Zhu (Jiangsu Huge Horses)
Nan Du (Tianjin Lions)
Manager Wei Li, who led China at the 2024 U-23 World Cup in Shaoxing City, China, returns to manage the team in Tucson.
China lost 3-1 in the 2024 U-23 bronze medal game to Nicaragua on September 14, 2024 at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Culture Center.
Li will have bench coach Guojun Han, hitting coach Ray Chang, pitching coach Jian Zhang, and bullpen coach Wei Wang on his staff for the 2025 WBCQ.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Veterans Memorial Stadium
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
March 2, 2025
China vs. Germany – 1 p.m. EST
Brazil vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 3, 2025
Brazil vs. Germany – 1 p.m. EST
Colombia vs. China – 8 p.m. EST
March 4, 2025
China vs. Brazil – 1 p.m. EST
Germany vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 6, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and a Qualifier nation will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will compete at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
