Italy's Improbable World Baseball Classic Run Ends, But Azzurri Leave Lasting Impact at Home

Italy manager Francisco Cervelli believes the team will no longer be the 'Cinderella' at the next World Baseball Classic.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:27am

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Italy's surprising run at the 2026 World Baseball Classic came to an end with a 4-2 semifinal loss to Venezuela, but the Azzurri players and manager believe they have made a lasting impact on baseball in their soccer-crazed country. Despite the elimination, the team remained on the dugout railing for 10 minutes after the final out, waving to the pro-Venezuela crowd and saluting their Italian fans. Cervelli told the team they are 'champions' of the tournament, as no one expected their success. The expectation is that this young Italian roster will be back and more experienced in future WBCs, hoping to further grow the sport's popularity in Italy.

Why it matters

Italy's improbable run to the World Baseball Classic semifinals, despite being comprised mostly of Italian-Americans with limited ties to the country, has helped raise the profile of baseball in a nation where the sport has traditionally lagged behind soccer in popularity. The team's celebratory antics and passionate play have captivated fans both in Italy and abroad, providing a potential foundation for future growth and success of the sport.

The details

In their first-ever WBC semifinal appearance, Italy blew a 2-1 seventh-inning lead against Venezuela, allowing three consecutive run-scoring singles that led to their elimination. Despite the loss, the Italian players remained on the dugout railing for 10 minutes after the final out, waving to the pro-Venezuela crowd and saluting their Italian fans. Manager Francisco Cervelli told the team they are 'champions' of the tournament, as no one expected their success. The young Italian roster, made up of mostly minor leaguers, is expected to return more experienced in future WBCs, hoping to further grow the sport's popularity in their soccer-crazed country.

  • The Azzurri stunned with a 5-0 start to reach their first WBC semifinal.
  • Italy blew a 2-1 seventh-inning lead on Monday night against Venezuela.
  • The Italian players remained on the dugout railing for 10 minutes after the final out.

The players

Francisco Cervelli

The manager of the Italian national baseball team, who believes Italy will no longer be the 'Cinderella' at the next World Baseball Classic.

Jakob Marsee

The center fielder for the Italian national baseball team, who spoke about the excitement of playing in front of large crowds during the tournament.

Vinnie Pasquantino

The captain of the Italian national baseball team, who said the goal of the team is to impact baseball in Italy and hopes to see more Italians from Italy playing for the national team in the future.

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What they’re saying

“We are no longer the Cinderella. In three years they are going to take us seriously. We have a group of young players that are going to participate in the next classic. What they experienced today, they are going to take it away for the rest of their lives.”

— Francisco Cervelli, Italy Manager

“To play in front of all these crowds and just how loud they were in these games, no one thought we could win, and being able to do it with all the guys was a lot of fun.”

— Jakob Marsee, Center Fielder

“We just wanted to make sure we waved and thanked, one, the Venezuelan fans who were here tonight, and the Italian fans that were here, because that atmosphere was incredible.”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Team Captain

What’s next

The expectation is that this young Italian roster will be back and more experienced in future World Baseball Classics, hoping to further grow the sport's popularity in Italy.

The takeaway

Italy's improbable run to the World Baseball Classic semifinals has helped raise the profile of baseball in a nation where the sport has traditionally lagged behind soccer in popularity. The team's celebratory antics and passionate play have captivated fans both in Italy and abroad, providing a potential foundation for future growth and success of the sport.