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Venezuela Baseball Team Focuses on WBC, Avoids Politics
Venezuelan players say they are in Miami to play baseball, not discuss political tensions
Mar. 6, 2026 at 1:27am
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The Venezuelan national baseball team is competing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Miami, where a large Venezuelan population resides. Despite the recent U.S. military operation to capture Venezuela's deposed leader Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan players say they are focused on playing baseball and representing their country, not discussing political issues. The team's manager, Omar López, has insisted he will not talk about political situations and just wants his team to win games.
Why it matters
The WBC is a global baseball tournament that often intersects with geopolitics, as national pride and rivalries come into play. The presence of the Venezuelan team in Miami, so soon after the U.S. operation against Maduro, adds an extra layer of political tension to the event. However, the Venezuelan players are trying to keep the focus on the sport and their goal of winning the tournament.
The details
The Venezuelan national baseball team is managed by Omar López and features star catcher Salvador Perez. They are competing in the WBC pool play games at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of the Miami Marlins. A large Venezuelan population lives in the Miami area, especially in the suburb of Doral, which has the largest Venezuelan community in South Florida. The Venezuelan players say they are not focused on the political situation back home and just want to play baseball and represent their country.
- The WBC pool play games in Miami are scheduled for March 10-15, 2026.
- The U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro occurred in early January 2026, just two months before the WBC games in Miami.
The players
Omar López
The manager of the Venezuelan national baseball team, with 28 years of experience in baseball.
Salvador Perez
The captain of the Venezuelan national baseball team and a star catcher.
What they’re saying
“I've been working in baseball for 28 years and I don't talk about political stuff, to be honest. I'm here to talk about our Venezuelan team. I'm not here to talk about anything about political situations around the world, around my country. We are alive, we are here and we want to play for our team to win every single game here.”
— Omar López, Manager, Venezuelan National Baseball Team (wbal.com)
“I don't try to pay attention to that, you know. I understand when fans buy a ticket, they want to see the team win. Win or lose, it's part of the game. … I can control what I can control. The rest, God has control of that.”
— Salvador Perez, Captain, Venezuelan National Baseball Team (wbal.com)
What’s next
The Venezuelan national baseball team will continue its pool play games in the World Baseball Classic in Miami through March 15, 2026.
The takeaway
Despite the political tensions surrounding the Venezuelan team's presence in Miami, the players are focused on representing their country through baseball and trying to win the World Baseball Classic tournament, rather than engaging in political discussions.
