WBC 2026
"No Feeling Like It:" Bryce Harper to Play for USA at WBC
The Phillies announced Tuesday that he intends to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in 2026, marking his return to international competition more than 15 years after he last represented the country as a teenager. The United States last won the WBC in 2017.
Bryce Harper is ready to put the stars and stripes back on.
The Phillies announced Tuesday that he intends to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in 2026, marking his return to international competition more than 15 years after he last represented the country as a teenager.
“Put the colors on my chest for the 1st time when I was 15. No other feeling like it,” Harper wrote on Instagram. “I’m excited to announce I will be representing Team USA this year in the WBC.”
Harper previously committed to the 2023 WBC but was forced to withdraw following elbow surgery after the 2022 season. This time, barring injury, the Philadelphia Phillies star appears fully on board.
The 33-year-old is coming off a solid, if not peak, season, hitting 27 home runs with an .844 OPS over 580 plate appearances. He is expected to anchor first base on a stacked U.S. roster that already includes captain Aaron Judge, teammate Kyle Schwarber, and elite arms like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.
Team USA opens Pool B play on March 6 in Houston, facing Brazil at Daikin Park. The tournament runs March 5–17, with games in Houston, Miami, Tokyo, and San Juan, and the final rounds in Miami.
The United States last won the WBC in 2017. Harper clearly intends to make sure it doesn’t take another nine years.