Venezuela win first World Baseball Classic title after taming USA in politically fraught final

In the capital of Caracas, the celebrations spilled into the streets late into the night.

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 - 09:58

Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 on Tuesday night to win their first World Baseball Classic title, a landmark triumph in a politically charged final that resonated far beyond the diamond.

Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth inning to seal a dramatic victory for the South American side at Miami’s LoanDepot Park.

After Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony with a 100mph fastball for the final out, Venezuelan players poured onto the field, many draped in their national flag, celebrating a moment years in the making.

“Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we win the championship today,” an elated Suárez said afterwards. “What can I say about this? God is good! Jesus, he was with us the whole time. We have to glorify [him], put his name in front of everything.”

Members of Team Venezuela celebrate in the locker room (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The game, played before a sold-out crowd of 36,190 mostly pro-Venezuela spectators at Miami’s LoanDepot Park, had been framed from the outset by geopolitical tension. Relations between the two countries have been strained since January, when US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Players insisted throughout the week that their focus remained on baseball, but the wider context was impossible to ignore.

US president Donald Trump added to that backdrop with a Truth Social post on Monday night ahead of the final, writing: “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?”.

Moments after Tuesday’s final out he repeated the taunt, posting: “STATEHOOD!!! President DJT”.

Venezuela’s players declined to engage publicly with the rhetoric.

“We’re here to speak baseball,” Ronald Acuña Jr had said before the game. And on the field, they did so emphatically.

Facing a US “dream team” teeming with Major League Baseball stars and seeking their first title since 2017, Venezuela leaned on the same formula that carried them through come-from-behind wins over Japan and Italy in the knockout stage: timely hitting, depth throughout the lineup and a refusal to wilt in big moments.

“They were with us here in our hearts,” Venezuela captain Salvador Perez said of his countrymen. “The World Series, as you all know, is one of the most important championships in the major leagues, but when you fight for your country, that goes beyond. That feeling, the country where you were born and raised, the sacrifices made by our parents, those people that helped us, that’s why this means a lot to me and to Venezuela.”

Both starters were sharp early. Venezuela’s Eduardo Rodríguez and US right-hander Nolan McLean worked scoreless first and second innings.

Venezuela broke through in the third when Salvador Pérez singled, Acuña walked and both advanced on a wild pitch. Maikel García followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Pérez for a 1-0 lead.

Wilyer Abreu added to the lead in the fifth with a solo home run to center field for a 2-0 advantage. Rodríguez allowed limited traffic before exiting, while Venezuela’s bullpen kept the US lineup in check.

The United States had few chances. Bryce Harper singled in the sixth but was stranded. The Americans did not advance a runner past second through seven full innings as Venezuela’s pitching and defense held the lead.

Then came Harper’s two-run home run off Andrés Machado in the bottom of the eighth, which tied the game at 2-2 and sent the Miami crowd into delirium. But Suárez’s RBI double in the top of the ninth put Venezuela ahead for good, before Palencia retired the Americans in order to seal the title.

The US players had arrived at the ballpark on Tuesday afternoon in game-worn US Olympic hockey jerseys coordinated by outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal against Canada last month.

Venezuela acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared Wednesday a National Day of Joy and made it a non-working holiday except for essential workers.

“My country needs that championship,” star outfielder Acuña Jr said, wiping tears from his eyes. “I just want to make my people proud. That’s what I did today.”

In the capital of Caracas, the celebrations spilled into the streets late into the night. Thousands also sang the anthem as they gathered in the Plaza de la Juventud (Plaza of Youth) to the racket of honking horns from cars and motorcycles.

“I’m overjoyed. It’s too much for me!” high school student Yorleiny Mestra said. “The United States is a superpower, and the fact that we beat them makes me very proud of Venezuela.”

DAY OF JOY: Venezuela fans celebrate their national baseball team's victory in Caracas. Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images

While the US, Japan and the Dominican Republic got much of the attention ahead of the sixth edition of the 20-nation event, Venezuela’s success was not that surprising. Sixty-three players born in Venezuela appeared on Major League Baseball opening-day rosters last year, second-most from outside the US behind the Dominican Republic’s 100.

Garcia was selected the tournament MVP after hitting .385 with a WBC-high 10 hits and seven RBIs.

“They underestimated Venezuela because we had never won anything, but we are powerful,” Garcia said. “We won today, and I expect that in the new ranking, we are No 1 and Japan is No 2.”

Despite a heralded roster of stars led by Aaron Judge, Harper and Paul Skenes, the US remained without a title since 2017. Manager Mark DeRosa also led the 2023 American team that lost the final 3-2 to Japan and would come back for 2029 if offered another chance.

“Ultimately, it’s who gets hot at the right time, who gets a big swing,” DeRosa said. “It just seemed like we couldn’t get the offense going the entire tournament.”

Guardian and agencies