2026 World Baseball Classic: Venezuela top USA to win resounding first championship

In their first appearance in the WBC final, Venezuela seize the moment in Miami by holding USA to just three hits to become the first South American team to lift the coveted trophy. Infielder Maikel García followed in the footsteps of Japan's Shohei Ohtani and was named tournament MVP.

In a clinical, masterful display of baseball, Venezuela won their first WBC championship with a 3-2 victory over USA in the final on Tuesday (17 March) in Miami.

Venezuela broke through in their first trip to the title game. Their previous best finish was the semi-finals in 2009, and now join three-time winners Japan, USA and the Dominican Republic in the select circle of world champions. The U.S. were appearing in their third consecutive final but finished runners-up for a second straight time. The 2017 champions lost to Japan in the 2023 final. Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel García was named tournament MVP. After closer Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony for the final out, the Venezuelan half of the crowd of 36,190 at loanDepot park burst with joy.

“This is like winning the World Series. This is like Game 7 of the World Series,” said Venezuela captain Salvador Pérez, who was playing in his fourth WBC.“To make all 30 million people happy, given where they are, it’s amazing. It’s a lot of pressure. I felt like I had 30 million people on my back. They deserved it.“It’s unbelievable. I’m super happy. And now I feel like I can retire. I know a lot of people didn’t believe in this team but we did it. We did it, and we’re No. 1. “It’s amazing. That’s something we all wanted from the first day.”