Team USA to face Italy or Venezuela in 2026 World Baseball Classic final

The U.S. defeated the Dominican Republic to advance to its third straight WBC championship game.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:08pm

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The 2026 World Baseball Classic final is set to take place on Tuesday night at loanDepot park in Miami. Team USA punched its ticket to the title game on Sunday with a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic, and will now face either Italy or Venezuela, who will square off in the semifinal on Monday. The U.S. is seeking its second WBC championship, having won the title in 2017.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament that showcases the top talent from around the globe. For Team USA, winning the WBC would cement its status as one of the premier baseball nations in the world. The final will also provide an opportunity for the U.S. to avenge a surprising pool play loss to Italy earlier in the tournament.

The details

In the semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, the U.S. got home runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony to overcome a solo shot from the D.R.'s Junior Caminero. Mets pitcher Nolan McLean will get the start for the U.S. in the final, looking to build on his strong finish to the 2025 MLB season. Whichever team the U.S. faces - Italy or Venezuela - will be seeking its first WBC championship.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic final will take place on Tuesday, March 19, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET.
  • Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic on Sunday, March 17, 2026 to advance to the final.
  • The Italy vs. Venezuela semifinal will be played on Monday, March 18, 2026.

The players

Nolan McLean

The 24-year-old Mets right-hander will start the World Baseball Classic final for Team USA.

Gunnar Henderson

The Orioles infielder hit a game-tying home run in the third inning of the U.S. semifinal win over the Dominican Republic.

Roman Anthony

The Marlins outfielder followed Henderson's homer with a go-ahead solo shot to lead the U.S. to victory.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to have another chance at the World Baseball Classic title. This team has worked hard to get to this point, and we're ready to finish the job.”

— Trea Turner, Team USA shortstop

“Winning the WBC would be an incredible accomplishment for this group of players. We know Italy and Venezuela will both be tough opponents, but we're confident in our ability to bring home the championship.”

— Mike Trout

What’s next

The winner of the Italy vs. Venezuela semifinal on Monday will advance to face Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

Team USA's quest for a second World Baseball Classic title will come down to one final game on Tuesday. After a hard-fought semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic, the U.S. will look to cap off an impressive tournament run by defeating either Italy or Venezuela and cementing its status as one of the premier baseball nations in the world.