COLOMBIA AT THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: A HARSH REALITY, AN INTACT HOPE
By Mary Escobar
Colombia’s participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic marks a special moment: it will be
the third time the country steps onto the stage of the most important international baseball
tournament. That is no small feat. Reaching this level requires years of work, qualification,
preparation, and a deep commitment to a sport that, while not the most popular nationwide,
ignites tremendous passion in the Caribbean region where baseball is lived intensely.
In its two previous appearances, Colombia performed well but left mixed feelings. In 2017, the
team thrilled the continent with memorable games, going toe-to-toe with powerhouses like the
United States and the Dominican Republic. In 2023, although the performance did not reach
the same level, the team once again showed flashes of talent and moments that made fans
believe the country could take a bigger step forward. However, in elite baseball, emotions don’t
advance you—wins do. And Colombia, despite competing with quality and dignity, did not
reach the second round in either of those two opportunities.
With that recent history as a backdrop, the turn now belongs to the 2026 Colombian team. A
group that blends youth, talent, hope, and also clear limitations. A team that earned its spot
convincingly in the qualifying phase and now faces a challenge of an entirely different
magnitude.
The 2026 Team
The Colombian roster presents a mix of strengths and weaknesses that define its competitive
identity. There are MLB-experienced players who bring leadership and calm in pressure
moments, such as José Quintana, Gio Urshela, and Harold Ramírez. There is also young talent
arriving hungry and energetic, ready to prove that Colombia can compete with anyone. But
reality demands acknowledging that only 20% of the team has experience at this level, meaning
most players will be facing packed stadiums, elite opponents, and an unforgiving international
atmosphere for the first time.
Colombia’s pitching staff has strong arms and velocity, but also control issues that can become
a serious obstacle in a tournament where every run allowed matters. The offense features solid
contact hitters but lacks the power needed to change a game with a single swing. It is a team
capable of competing, fighting, and surprising, but one that needs near-perfect precision to
hold its ground in tight games.
Even so, players like Urshela, Quintana, and Ramírez represent genuine hope. Much of the
belief in a breakthrough victory rests on their shoulders.
Baseball is a beautiful sport because it allows surprises, because a small team can beat a giant,
because a single inning can change everything. But it is also a sport where experience, depth,
and mental stability matter more than in almost any other. And in that terrain, Colombia arrives
with desire and heart, but with a very small margin for error.
A Tough Group and a Relentless Schedule
Group A, assigned to Colombia in 2026, is—without exaggeration—one of the toughest in the
tournament. Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, and Panama form a block where every game demands
precision, composure, and almost perfect execution. But beyond what these four teams
represent individually, the order of the games is what truly turns this challenge into an uphill
climb.
The debut on March 6 will be against Puerto Rico, in San Juan, in a packed stadium and an
atmosphere that pushes the home team like few places in the world. Puerto Rico is not only
superior in experience and talent—it is playing at home and will not let that game slip away. For
Colombia, this opening game is a massive psychological test, because a tough blow on the first
day can set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
The next day, March 7, brings Canada, an inconsistent team but one with more experience and
depth. If Colombia arrives with a painful loss from its debut, morale could work strongly against
them. Even if they arrive with a favorable result, they will still face a rival that knows how to
exploit any loss of control from opposing pitchers.
Then, on March 8, comes Cuba, a team that punishes mistakes and wears down opponents with
disciplined offense. In the unlikely scenario that Colombia arrives with a win over Canada or
Puerto Rico, it will do so tired and with a taxed bullpen. In any case, they will face the legendary
Cuban team under the accumulated pressure of a tournament that offers no breathing room. A
very difficult game.
Finally, Panama closes the schedule on March 9 at noon. Yes, let’s admit it—everyone wished
the first game had been against Panama. It is the most accessible rival, but by then Colombia
will have already faced three grueling battles. The team may arrive worn down, emotionally
pressured, and with the urgency to win to secure a respectable showing. Even if they achieve
that victory, the one that seems most within reach on paper, it may not be enough to advance,
because Group A demands more than a single isolated win to reach the next round.
A Reward for Effort
Despite all these difficulties, one thing must remain clear: Colombia earned this spot on merit.
The team did it by playing well, competing seriously, and showing that Colombian baseball
continues to grow. The players on this 2026 roster did not arrive here by chance. They earned
it, they represent a process that is moving forward, and they embody a country that has
learned that in baseball, you only improve by facing the best in the world.
The group they were assigned is extremely tough, the order of the games is unfavorable, and
the odds may not be in their favor. But baseball is a sport that rewards effort, discipline, and
passion. Colombia has shown in its previous appearances that it never gives up, that it
competes with professionalism, and that it leaves everything on the field. The team may not
reach the second round, the lack of experience may weigh more than desire, and the level of its
rivals may be high, but the Colombian squad will not back down. It will play with dignity, with
courage, and with the conviction that every inning is an opportunity to surprise and advance.
No matter what happens, baseball is emotion, fire, grit, passion, and hope. And Colombia, with
all its strengths and all its limitations, is ready to offer a spectacle worth watching. Fans will not
miss any of the four games, because in each one there will be effort, sacrifice, and the deep
desire to represent their country with honor. And that, in a tournament of this magnitude, is
already a victory in itself.
Play ball, Colombia!!
