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Team USA will appear in their third straight World Baseball Classic final Tuesday night against Venezuela, looking for their second title in the international tournament.
The U.S. will look to avenge its 3-2 loss to Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final with a win over Venezuela at 8:00 PM ET at loanDepot Park in Miami. The game will be televised on Fox.
Venezuela rallied to beat Italy 4-2 in the semifinals on Monday night to set up a final against the Americans. Tuesday’s game will be the first-ever World Baseball Classic championship appearance for the country.
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(Left) USA’s Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico in Houston, Texas, March 9, 2026. (Right) Ronald Acuña Jr. (21) of Team Venezuela looks on prior to a World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Team Israel on March 20, Miami, Florida, Park March 20, Miami, Park. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo; Rich Storry/Getty Images)
The USA and Venezuela have defeated some of the top teams in the tournament on their journey to the championship game.
The U.S., which only reached the quarterfinal round with help from Team Italy, beat Team Canada 5-3 on Friday, continuing the recent trend of U.S. wins over Canada from the Olympics and Paralympics in hockey.
Team USA’s win over Canada set up a highly anticipated matchup with the Dominican Republic. The USA sent Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes to the mound to take on one of the tournament’s most touted lineups.
WORLD SERIES CHAMP HAS PROBLEM WITH COVERAGE OF TEAM USA’S WIN OVER DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Gunnar Henderson of Team USA rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on March 15, 2026. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos)
Skenes and the Team USA bullpen led the team to a thrilling 2-1 victory. Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson and Boston Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the win.
Venezuela knocked out Japan, the defending champion, in the quarterfinals with an 8-5 win. Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu hit an electrifying three-run home run in the sixth inning to put Venezuela up 7-5, and they never looked back.
Venezuela’s 4-2 comeback win over Italy began with Eugenio Suárez’s solo home run in the fourth inning that cut the lead to 2-1. Venezuela tied the game in the seventh inning when Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. ran a groundball into the shortstop hole, allowing Andres Giménez to score.
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The Venezuela team celebrates after defeating Italy at a World Baseball Classic semifinal game in Miami, Florida on March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
One batter after Acuña, Kansas City Royals star Maikel García ripped a line drive single into left field, scoring Jackson Chourio to give Venezuela a 3-2 lead.
Luis Arraez continued the rally when he hit a looping line drive into center field to score Acuna, giving Venezuela a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.
Team USA will start New York Mets rookie Nolan McLean on the mound, while Venezuela will send Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez to the title game.
