MIAMI — One of the World Baseball Classic’s most overlooked teams is now its 2026 champion.
Venezuela claimed its first WBC title in the event’s 20-year history, defeating the U.S. team 3–2 as it held the Americans to just three hits. The exuberant Venezuelans triumphed Tuesday before a rollicking crowd of 36,190 at loanDepot Park. In the process, the country defied pre-tournament projections focused heavily on the U.S., defending champion Japan, and the Dominican Republic, as well as the attention that shifted to the feel-good Italians.
The Venezuelan team featured several MLB stars, including the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, and its players will collectively earn $187 million in the league this year. That figure, however, pales against the comparable $311 million across the U.S. team, further showing the nature of the upset that unfolded.
Much more impactful, though, this year’s WBC accelerated its trajectory from what initially was a preseason curiosity into something that the normally reserved U.S. team captain, Aaron Judge,called “bigger and better than the World Series.” Television viewers have similarly responded in unprecedented fashion, pushing multiple WBC games to record-setting audience totals.
“The whole country is going to be paralyzed to watch the game,” Venezuela manager Omar López said before the title contest. “Together, we are going to have better generations for our country, united with no political colors or ideology. … Thirty human beings are going to unite Venezuela through a baseball game.”
Added U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, “I just think [the WBC] has this unique ability to draw in kind of the common fan who can just really rally around this and really rally around their country and support it. So this thing has been incredible, and to see it grow has been incredible.”
The Venezuelan team, meanwhile, played in the WBC against the backdrop of political instability, heightened by the U.S. military action in January in the South American country.
Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez, rising to her position after the Trump Administration captured predecessor Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the U.S. to stand trial, echoed López’s sentiments about the game’s unifying power.
“Venezuela triumphs united! For the first time, we are champions of the World Baseball Classic,” she shared on social media after the game. “This triumph is the victory of the passion, talent, and unity that define us as Venezuelans. An achievement that will remain forever in the heart of our country. ¡VIVA VENEZUELA! “
Venezuela’s WBC championship run also included beating Japan in the quarterfinals and Italy in the semifinals.
Forcing the Issue
The heightened emotions and deep pride players have had competing for their country have been defining themes of this year’s WBC. Many involved credited the Latin American countries, including Venezuela, and their fans for helping create that vibe, and that energy was on full display again Tuesday as loanDepot park pulsated and hung on every pitch.
“I was part of [this] in 2009 as a player and didn’t understand what we were getting into,” DeRosa said. “To see the passion now … I credit the Latin American countries. I credit Japan. I credit the other countries for kind of forcing the United States’ hand to get in on this.”
