MIAMI — The highly anticipated World Baseball Classic semifinal battle royale between the U.S. and Dominican Republic has been absolutely nothing like most Marlins games here—further showcasing the firm hold this event now has on fans.
Playing at the club’s loanDepot park, the normally staid facility pulsated with energy from the sellout crowd. Of course, the litany of MLB All-Stars on both rosters—including Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes for the U.S. and Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the Dominican Republic—brought fans out to the ballpark. Once there, though, those fans cheered at deafening volume, they rattled noisemakers, waved flags, and they lined up for prime standing-room positions hours before first pitch. Even routine fly balls brought dramatic crescendos from the crowd.
“The WBC has been fantastic,” Meyer said shortly before Sunday’s game. “The fan engagement has been terrific. It’s been great baseball and a great thing for the sport. The players I’ve spoken to are thrilled to be here representing their countries. And in this market, in Miami, you can see the fan interest in baseball, which, unfortunately, is perhaps not maximized by the franchise here. But the fans have been great.”
The Marlins, boasting just one full-season playoff appearance since 2004, have by far MLB’s lowest luxury-tax payroll this year at $79.5 million, and in 2025 had the league’s third-worst home attendance with a per-game average of 14,292—beating only the Rays and A’s as they played last year in minor-league facilities. Those metrics are happening despite Miami being the No. 18 U.S. media market—something much more reflected in the raucous WBC energy.
Playing for Country
The WBC semifinals also extended a theme that has been deeply prevalent throughout this sixth iteration of the international tournament: playing for one’s country stirs an entirely different set of deep emotions than the normal, day-to-day mechanics of competing for a pro team. A similar dynamic also just played out in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
It’s additionally what previously moved Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to consider upending his spring training preparation to remain with the U.S. team, and it’s brought up new levels of on-field joy among even the most reserved players.
“This is what you dream about as a kid, playing with the best of the best,” said Yankees superstar and U.S. team captain Aaron Judge, well known for filtering out the noise that his fame and the New York market generate. “We’ve got the best squad out there. [The Dominican Republic] has the best squad out there. It’s what you play when you’re in your backyard playing Wiffle Ball. It’s moments like this you dream about.”
Added Juan Soto, star outfielder for the Dominican Republic, “The emotions on the field are unprecedented. You cannot compare that with anything. Wearing your country’s uniform, it’s very difficult to describe that in words. So many emotions, [the] adrenaline that you feel in your body. I mean, I cannot describe it, but I love to be part of this process.”
The WBC began with a record 78 MLB All-Stars involved, with a meaningful portion of that group still involved in the semifinals, also including Italy and Venezuela.
“I think it’s what the world wants to see,” said U.S. manager Mark DeRosa. “I think the beauty of the WBC is that not only do you get to see people represent their country on the world stage, I think it has the ability to bring fans who weren’t totally into baseball into it. It’s such a grower of the game on the world stage. … So I think it’s just a phenomenal event that came to pass.”
