Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, securing the country's first title in the tournament's history.[1]
The 2026 World Baseball Classic concluded with the championship game at the Miami Marlins' home stadium, loanDepot Park.[1] Venezuela, managed by Omar López, had previously achieved a best finish of fifth place in both the 2009 and 2017 editions.[2]
The United States entered the final as the defending champions from 2017 but fell short against Venezuela. The 2023 final had seen Japan defeat the U.S. 3-2, with Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout to clinch Japan's second title.[3]
Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the score at 2-2. Eugenio Suárez then delivered a go-ahead RBI double, and Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony to close out the victory for Venezuela.
Maikel García of Venezuela was named tournament MVP. Salvador Pérez, a catcher for the Kansas City Royals and veteran of multiple WBCs, highlighted the significance of the win for his country.
Venezuelan players celebrated on the field at loanDepot Park following the win.
Sources
- MLB.com
World Baseball Classic 2026 dates, venues announced
May 1, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-dates-venues-announced - World Baseball Classic Wikipedia
Venezuela national baseball team appearances
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela_national_baseball_team#World_Baseball_Classic - MLB.com
Japan completes World Baseball Classic title defense with 3-2 victory over U.S.
March 22, 2023
https://www.mlb.com/news/japan-wins-2023-world-baseball-classic
