NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Team USA will compete in its third straight World Baseball Classic final Tuesday night against Venezuela, seeking its second title in the international tournament.
The United States looks to avenge its 3-2 loss to Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final with a victory against Venezuela at 8 p.m. ET at LoanDepot Park in Miami. The game will air on Fox.
Venezuela rallied to beat Italy 4-2 in the semifinals Monday night and set up a final against the Americans. Tuesday’s game will be the country’s first-ever appearance in the World Baseball Classic championship.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
(Left) Aaron Judge of the United States runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in 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 before a World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Team Israel at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo; Rich Story/Getty Images)
The United States and Venezuela defeated some of the tournament’s best teams on their journey to the championship game.
The United States, which only reached the quarterfinals with help from Team Italy, beat Team Canada 5-3 on Friday, continuing a recent trend of U.S. victories over Canada at the Olympic and Paralympic hockey games.
Team USA’s victory against Canada set up a highly anticipated clash with the Dominican Republic. The United States sent Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes to the mound to face one of the most highly touted teams in the tournament.
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION IS IN TROUBLE WITH COVERAGE AROUND TEAM USA’S VICTORY OVER DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Gunnar Henderson of Team USA rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during 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. (Photos Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB)
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 a solo home run in the victory.
Venezuela eliminated defending champions Japan in the quarterfinals with an 8-5 victory. Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu hit an electrifying three-run walkoff in the sixth inning to give Venezuela a 7-5 lead, and they never looked back.
Venezuela’s 4-2 victory over Italy began with Eugenio Suárez’s fourth-inning solo home run that cut the lead to 2-1. Venezuela tied the score in the seventh inning when Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. threw a ground ball into the shortstop hole, allowing Andres Giménez to score.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Team Venezuela celebrates after defeating Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal game in Miami, Florida, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
One batter after Acuña, Kansas City Royals star Maikel García blasted a line drive single into left field, scoring Jackson Chourio to give Venezuela a 3-2 lead.
Luis Arraez continued the rally by blasting a looping line drive into center field to score Acuna, giving Venezuela a 4-2 lead it would not relinquish.
Team USA welcomes New York Mets rookie Nolan McLean to the mound, while Venezuela sends Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez to the title game.
