The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) has entered the history books not only for its level of competitiveness, but for the end of an era and the birth of a new power. After three weeks of pure intensity, the Grand Final has been defined: Venezuela, the team that walked on giants, will face the colossus and host, the United States, in what is shaping up to be the most watched sporting event in the history of the country.
The national team led by Omar López has broken all the predictions. After advancing as the undefeated leader in Group D (beating the always fearsome Dominican Republic), Venezuela gave the first big blow of authority in the quarterfinals by eliminating the reigning champions, Japan, in a pitching duel that ended 1-0.
In the semifinal against Italy, the "Vinotinto del Béisbol" showed that it knows how to suffer. With a masterful start by Ángel Zerpa and the fiery wood by Ronald Acuña Jr., the Venezuelans came back from an adverse score to seal their pass to their first historic final. "This is for an entire country that breathes baseball," said an emotional Luis Arráez after the game.
For its part, the United States has fulfilled its label of favorite, although not without setbacks. After a group stage in Houston where they escorted a surprising and undefeated Italy, the team of the Stars and Stripes adjusted their pieces.
The key to his success has been pitching. Paul Skenes, the new crown jewel, has set a new strikeout record for the tournament, silencing the Dominican Republic's offenses in the quarterfinals and keeping opponents at bay in the semifinals. With a lineup that looks like a Major League All-Star, the home team will be looking to revalidate their dominance at home
Not everything was celebration. The big negative surprise was Mexico's early elimination. After reaching the semifinals in 2023, the Aztec ninth could not decipher the European pitching and was eliminated in the first round, leaving a huge void in the Latin fans.
Also, for the first time in several editions, the final will not have an Asian representative. Japan and South Korea, while dominant in their region, succumbed to the momentum and speed of American and Caribbean baseball in the knockout rounds in Miami.
