2026 World Baseball Classic preview: Rankings, keys, more - ESPN

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway!

Over the next two weeks, many of the biggest stars on the planet will take the field under the bright lights of the international stage.

Which teams join the United States as favorites to win it all? Who are the top candidates to shock the world? And which superstars will shine brightest during this year's event?

It's time to break it all down with our WBC Power Rankings, contender tiers and keys to reigning supreme in 2026.

Pool B | Title odds: -110

Most likely MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. was a 22-year-old pinch runner who got just two at-bats in the last edition of the WBC. Since then, he has won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers, finished within the top five in MVP voting twice and accumulated 24.4 FanGraphs wins above replacement, trailing only Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. At 25, he might already be one of the three best players in the sport. And he is primed to shine in this tournament. — Alden Gonzalez

X factor: Nolan McLean is among the more surprising entrees into this tournament, because top pitching prospects hardly ever get involved. And the Mets' 24-year-old right-hander will end up playing a major role. After a bout with vertigo, McLean is poised to start Tuesday against Italy. After that, U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said McLean would be lined up to take the mound for a potential championship game. Team USA officials are confident McLean's explosive stuff will play against some of the world's best. They're about to find out. — Gonzalez

Pool B: Daikin Park, Houston
(All times ET)

Fri., March 6: USA vs. Brazil, 8 p.m.
Sat., March 7: USA vs. Great Britain, 8 p.m.
Mon., March 9: Mexico vs. USA, 8 p.m.
Tue., March 10: Italy vs. USA, 9 p.m.

Top two teams from pool