- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Venezuela Wins First WBC Title, Uniting Fans Across the Globe
Venezuelan fans celebrate their team's victory in the World Baseball Classic final held in Miami.
Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:18pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 to win their first-ever World Baseball Classic title, sparking celebrations among Venezuelan fans both in Miami and back home in Caracas. The game brought together Venezuelan-Americans and Venezuelans living abroad, who proudly cheered on their national team despite the political turmoil in their home country.
Why it matters
Baseball is a unifying force in Venezuela, bringing together people of all ages and political beliefs. The WBC victory provided a much-needed moment of national pride and celebration for Venezuelans, who have faced economic and political crises in recent years.
The details
Venezuela's designated hitter Eugenio Suárez drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the ninth inning to secure the 3-2 victory over the United States. The game was played at loanDepot Park in Miami, where thousands of Venezuelan fans created a raucous atmosphere, making the new champions feel right at home.
- The WBC final was played on Tuesday, March 18, 2026.
- Venezuela's seven games in the tournament were all held at loanDepot Park in Miami.
The players
Pablo Cuerta
A Venezuelan-American fan who proudly wore both a Venezuela jersey and a U.S. flag to the game, representing his dual heritage.
Eugenio Suárez
Venezuela's designated hitter who drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to give Venezuela the 3-2 victory.
Omar López
Venezuela's manager, who emphasized that the team was focused on playing baseball and uniting the country, rather than getting involved in political discussions.
Delcy Rodríguez
Venezuela's acting president, who celebrated the team's victory and thanked the players on behalf of the Venezuelan people and government.
Josh Rojas
A Latino American student from Utah who proudly supported Venezuela, saying the team's run in the tournament made him more proud of his Latin heritage.
What they’re saying
“This is a celebration for all of the Venezuelan country.”
— Eugenio Suárez, Designated Hitter
“Together we are going to have better generations for our country, united with no color, political colors or ideology.”
— Omar López, Manager
“Long live Venezuela! Truly, I am very happy. I want, on behalf of our people and the government of Venezuela, to thank and embrace each one of our players.”
— Delcy Rodríguez, Acting President
“The USA is (the) best country in the world, but Venezuela is the best at baseball.”
— Enrique Cabrera, Retired Teacher
“This is a moment for every Venezuelan to regain faith. Wherever we are in any country, we are all supporting the national team.”
— Ashley Peña, Youth Organizer
What’s next
The Venezuelan national team is expected to receive a hero's welcome upon their return to Caracas, where the streets were empty during the game as the entire country tuned in to watch their team make history.
The takeaway
The World Baseball Classic final demonstrated the unifying power of sports, as Venezuelans from all walks of life came together to celebrate their national team's first-ever championship. Despite the political and economic challenges facing Venezuela, this victory provided a much-needed moment of national pride and optimism for the future.
