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Why Bo Takahashi is playing for Brazil in 2026 World Baseball Classic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Brazil faces a tall task in its first game of the World BAseball Classic, as the team will go up against Team USA in Houston, Texas.
The Brazilians are in the tournament thanks to earning a spot in the qualifiers, making them one of the biggest underdogs in the entire WBC. With a huge challenge awaiting, the team will start pitcher Bo Takahashi against Team USA in search of a massive upset.
Takahashi is a veteran pitcher who has been with Team Brazil for the past decade, but most casual baseball fans in America may not be familiar with his work. Here's why Takahashi is leading Brazil in the WBC.
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Why Bo Takahashi is playing for Brazil in World Baseball Classic
Rodrigo "Bo" Takahashi was born in Brazil in 1997, making him one of the native Brazilians on the team. The 29-year-old is also of Japanese descent, but he is representing his birth country in the WBC.
Takahashi has competed for Team Brazil in its quest to return to the WBC over the past decade. The right-hander pitched for Brazil in WBC qualifiers in both 2016 and 2025, and he now gets to make his WBC debut in 2026 for Brazil against the United States.
"I think it's every athlete's dream to represent their home country," Takahashi told USA Today. "Just to be here at the Houston Astros field, it's an amazing experience."
Takahashi added that Brazil is an up-and-coming baseball country, and the team is embracing the underdog mentality during the WBC.
"The pressure is on them," he said. "We're here to show what we are, what is Team Brazil, and for sure show them that we are an amazing team, a great team."
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Bo Takahashi WBC history
Takahashi has never pitched in the World Baseball Classic before, but he did compete for Brazil in past WBC qualifiers. In 2016, Takahashi allowed one run in four innings during a qualifier loss, then in 2025, he allowed one run in 2.1 innings during a different qualifier loss.
Therefore, Takahashi will be making his WBC debut when he takes the mound against the United States on Friday night in Houston.
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Notable players on Brazil's WBC roster
While Brazil's team doesn't have any current major leaguers, there are several relatives of current or former MLB players on the team. That includes:
- Dante Bichette Jr., brother of Bo Bichette
- Lucar Ramirez, son of Manny Ramirez
- Joseph Contreras, son of Jose Contreras
Brazil schedule WBC
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| 3/6 | vs. United States | 8:00 p.m. | Fox |
| 3/7 | vs. Italy | 1:00 p.m. | Fox App |
| 3/8 | vs. Mexico | 8:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| 3/9 | vs. Great Britain | 12:00 p.m. | Tubi |
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