Colombia has secured its qualification for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Colombian national team achieved this historic qualification by winning three key games in the Qualifying Tournament, held in Tucson, Arizona.
This is Colombia’s third World Baseball Classic qualification, following previous achievements in 2017 and 2023.
Colombia reaches highly-expected qualification for the 2026 Baseball Classic
Colombia played its first match against Brazil, securing a 5-0 victory. Julio Teheran, who had an outstanding performance, pitched a no-hitter until the sixth inning.
Colombia earned its second victory against China, dominating with a commanding 8-1 score. Despite some resistance from China in the second inning, the Colombians asserted their superiority with 11 hits.
Finally, in the third and final game, Colombia secured a decisive 10-0 victory over Germany. The Colombian offense was relentless, scoring five runs in the first inning and maintaining control throughout the game.
After the qualification, the team’s manager, Jose Mosquera, said: “This is the first time we are in this position, as the team to beat. In the past, they saw us as a joke team. ‘Oh, it’s a soccer country’.”
With this victory, Colombia secured one of the two tickets available in the Qualifying Tournament for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Key players in Colombia’s qualification
During the qualifying tournament, several Colombian players stood out for their excellent performances. Some of the key players were:
Dilson Herrera: A pillar of the team, known for his great on-field performance and his ability to drive in runs.
Giovanny Urshela: With Major League Baseball (MLB) experience, he has been essential both offensively and defensively.
Julio Teheran: A star pitcher who had outstanding performances in the qualifying games.
Jesus Marriaga: Notable for his impressive batting average and his ability to generate runs.
Harold Ramirez: Another key player with MLB experience, recognized for his ability to hit important singles.
These players, along with other talented members of the team, have been essential in taking Colombia to new heights in international baseball.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place from March 5 to 17, 2026, and will be held in several international venues, including Houston and Miami in the United States, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Tokyo in Japan. The tournament will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held in Houston and Miami on March 13 and 14. The semifinals and final will take place in Miami starting on March 15.
So far, 19 of the 20 teams have been confirmed for the tournament. The final spot will be decided in a game between Brazil and Germany tomorrow, Thursday, March 6. The teams qualified so far are:
Americas:
Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
United States
Asia:
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
Israel
Japan
South Korea
Europe:
Czech Republic
Great Britain
Italy
Netherlands
Oceania:
Australia