Venezuela is the champion of the 2026 World Baseball Classic after upsetting Team USA 3-2 in dramatic fashion in Tuesday night’s title game.
Venezuela held a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning earlier than Bryce Harper tied issues up with a towering two-run residence run in the underside of the body. But the game wasn’t tied for lengthy as Eugenio Suárez slugged a clutch double in the highest of the ninth to place Venezuela again in entrance. Daniel Palencia then shut the door in the underside of the ninth to seal the primary World Baseball Classic title in Venezuela’s historical past and USA’s second straight runner-up end.
Venezuela needed to stage a comeback in the semifinals to beat Cinderella story Italy and arrange Tuesday’s showdown with Team USA, who received a tense 2-1 semifinal showdown towards the Dominican Republic on Sunday night time in Miami due to solo residence runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony.
The American bats have been largely quiet towards the D.R., and the story was the identical in the title game as a powerhouse lineup that included Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Schwarber mustered solely three hits in a disappointing displaying.
Here’s a take a look at the 2026 World Baseball Classic bracket:
2026 World Baseball Classic bracket
World Baseball Classic/MLB
Team USA’s development out of pool play was extra nerve-wracking than anticipated, however the Americans obtained by means of to the semifinals due to Italy’s win over Mexico. Team USA misplaced to Italy the Italy-Mexico outcome. A slim Mexico win would’ve despatched the Americans packing.
Team USA completed in second place in Pool B, going 3-1 in group play. The U.S. simply beat Brazil and Great Britain earlier than an in depth win over Mexico. The Americans then shockingly misplaced to Italy and arrange a state of affairs the place their quarterfinal destiny was out of their arms. Italy, although, completed off an ideal spherical of pool play by beating Mexico to earn first place in Pool B. Italy’s win over Mexico prevented the knockout spots from being decided by the complicated WBC tiebreaker rules.
World Baseball Classic knockout outcomes
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 13
Dominican Republic 10, Korea 0 (7)
United States 5, Canada 3
Saturday, March 14
Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
Venezuela 8, Japan 5
Semifinals
Sunday, March 15
United States 2, Dominican Republic 1
Monday, March 16
Venezuela 4, Italy 2
Championship game
Tuesday, March 17
Venezuela 3, United States 2
