Can Brazil surprise in first World Baseball Classic appearance since 2013?

When it comes to sports in Brazil, fans naturally gravitate toward the rich heritage of soccer. But baseball has been quietly building something of its own. Brazil’s silver medal run at the 2023 Pan American Games was a recent sign of that rise, and now the national team is ready to prove it on an even bigger stage. By securing the final spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic through a winner-take-all qualifier, Brazil officially punched its ticket back to the sport’s premier international tournament.

Brazil will be making just its second appearance in the Classic after debuting in 2013, and this time the goal is to turn momentum into results. Still searching for its first Classic win, Brazil enters 2026 as a classic underdog with a roster that blends veterans and emerging talent, and the possible addition of an MLB star who could make them far more dangerous on the world stage.

2025 Qualifier performance

Brazil secured its spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic by winning the Qualifier in March 2025 in Tucson, Ariz. After opening the tournament with a 5-0 loss to Colombia, Brazil bounced back with three straight victories to claim the final spot in the tournament.

The clincher came with a dramatic 6-4 win over Germany in the final, marking Brazil’s first successful qualifier in 13 years. Brazil jumped on Germany early behind key hits from Leonardo Reginatto and Dante Bichette Jr., scoring all six of its runs by the fourth inning. From there, the pitching staff held strong, and Brazil slammed the door with an exhilarating 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

2026 World Baseball Classic schedule

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place March 5-17, with games played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; the Tokyo Dome and loanDepot park in Miami.

Brazil will compete in Pool B in Houston, facing a daunting group that includes USA, Mexico, Italy and Great Britain. Pool B games run March 6-11, and Brazil opens play against tournament favorite USA on March 6.

Best Classic performance

Brazil’s best moment on the World Baseball Classic stage came in its 2013 debut, when it nearly pulled off one of the biggest shocks in tournament history. Placed in Pool A alongside host Japan, Brazil opened the tournament against the two-time defending champions in a matchup most expected to be an easy victory for the powerhouse.

Instead, Brazil showed its grit, surprising not only its opponent, but the whole world. Sparked by a pivotal fifth-inning double from Reginatto, Brazil grabbed the lead and carried a 3-2 advantage into the late innings, forcing Japan into real pressure in front of its home crowd. It wasn’t until the eighth inning that Japan broke through, scoring three runs to rally for a 5-3 win. Brazil ultimately finished the tournament 0-3 and was relegated back to qualifiers, but that near-upset remains the defining moment of the program’s Classic history.

Biggest games in team history

Brazil’s international benchmark is still that 2013 clash with Japan. Even in defeat, the performance turned heads and showed Brazil was capable of hanging with the sport’s elite. Coming off a signature win in the 2013 qualifiers against Panama, Brazil carried that same fearless underdog energy into the World Baseball Classic, led by manager and Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. It may seem strange that Brazil’s biggest game to date ended in a loss, but it’s what the moment proved that still makes an impact, and it sets the tone heading into 2026, when Brazil will once again open against a powerhouse favorite.

Notable MLB players on the team

While Brazil won’t feature any active MLB players in the 2026 Classic, the team carries notable baseball lineage. Three players on the roster are sons of former MLB Players: Dante Bichette Jr., Joseph Contreras (son of José Contreras) and Lucas Ramirez (son of Manny Ramirez).

The most notable absence is Bo Bichette, who would have been Brazil’s lone active MLB position player. However, the Mets are taking a cautious approach to their new superstar acquisition. After Bichette suffered a knee injury in September, and with the team transitioning him to third base for the first time, they’ve rightly opted to keep him out of the tournament to focus on his preparation for the 2026 season.

Minor League prospects on the team

Contreras will be the youngest player on any Classic roster at just 17 years old. Inheriting his father’s 6-foot-4 frame, Contreras is currently ranked No. 47 in the 2026 MLB Draft class after helping Blessed Trinity High School win the Georgia 4A state title in 2025. He could be selected in the top two rounds of the Draft, though teams will have to sign him away from a commitment to Vanderbilt.

There’s also Ramirez, who was selected by the Angels in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Ramirez signed with the organization in July 2024, choosing to begin his professional career rather than follow through on a college commitment. In 2025, he reached the Angels’ High-A affiliate, the Tri-City Dust Devils. He also went 5-for-13 during the Classic Qualifier and could be a surprising threat in 2026 for Brazil.

Story to watch

While the players with MLB pedigrees bring intrigue to Brazil’s roster, the most compelling story belongs to Leonardo Reginatto, the veteran who has become the heartbeat of Brazilian baseball. Named one of the Top 10 standouts from the Classic Qualifiers, Reginatto has consistently stepped up whenever Brazil needed him the most.

Now 35, Reginatto has appeared in every World Baseball Classic tournament and qualifying game in which Brazil has played, and after Brazil clinched its spot in March, he acknowledged this will likely be his final Classic run. Reginatto went 5-for-13 with three doubles and four RBIs during the Qualifier, bringing his career numbers in Qualifiers (2012, '16, '22, '25) to an incredible 26-for-51 with 11 RBIs in 14 games. In a deep Pool B, Brazil’s top priority may be avoiding last place, which would mean relegation to the qualifying round for the next Classic. A more meaningful moment could be to send Reginatto out on a high note in what will be his final Classic ride.

Questions ahead of upcoming tournament

• Can the next generation step up? While Bichette Jr. has tournament experience, this will be the first Classic for both Ramirez and Contreras. Can Brazil’s young talent with MLB pedigree rise to the occasion on the sport’s biggest international stage?
• Can Brazil pull off an upset? Brazil has already shown it has the grit to scrap with the sport’s biggest names. Now the question is whether that can translate into the team's first Classic win, and a moment that makes the rest of the baseball world take notice.