See the reaction as Venezuela wins its first World Baseball Classic
By Matias Ocner and
Al Diaz
Venezuela pitcher Daniel Palencia (29) celebrates after defeating the United States in their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
The 2026 World Baseball Classic ended Tuesday with a 3-2 Venezuela win over the United States at Miami’s loanDepot park.
Eugenio Suarez’s ninth-inning RBI double gave Venezuela the lead for good as it won the World Baseball Classic for the first time. Wilyer Abreu also hit a home run and Venezuela’s pitching held the United States to just three hits.
Venezuela and the United States lineup during the opening ceremonies of the World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela fans gather for a photo before the start of their team’s World Baseball Classic final game against the United States at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela and the United States lineup during the opening ceremonies of the World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
United States starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against Venezuela in the first inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) pitches against the United States in the first inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) pitches against United States right fielder Aaron Judge (99) in the first inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
United States pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches in the first inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (52) pitches against the United States in the second inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez (2) runs to first base to tag out United States third baseman Alex Bregman (2) in the second inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) tosses the ball to fans during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic against the United States at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela’s catcher Salvador Perez (13) ties his shoelosses after a single to first base in the third inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic against the United States at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run against the United States in the third inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
United States first baseman Bryce Harper (24) hits a home run against Venezuela in the eighth inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
United States first baseman Bryce Harper (24) and Aaron Judge (99) celebrate at home plate after Harper hits a homerun in the eighth inning for the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic against Venezuela at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
United States first baseman Bryce Harper (24) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run against Venezuela in the eighth inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela outfielder Javier Sanoja (4) celebrates as he runs to homeplate to score on a double by Eugenio Suárez (7) in the ninth inning during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela outfielder Javier Sanoja (4) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run against the United States in the ninth inning of their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela pitcher Daniel Palencia (29) celebrates on the mound after the team defeats United States in the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela pitcher Daniel Palencia (29) celebrates after defeating the United States in their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela players celebrate after they defeated the United States in their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela pitcher Daniel Palencia (29) celebrates with teammates after defeating the United States in their World Baseball Classic final game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Venezuela catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with teammates after defeating the United States during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela players celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating the United States during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela players celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating the United States during the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Venezuela third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) celebrates with teammates after Venezuela defeats United States in the final game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 1:05 AM.
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