Venezuela wins first World Baseball Classic title, defeating U.S. 3-2 on Suárez RBI double

Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to score Javier Sanoja from second base, giving Venezuela a 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.[1][2]

Suárez, a 34-year-old third baseman for Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks who has represented Venezuela in prior WBC tournaments, connected on a 3-2 changeup from U.S. pitcher Garrett Whitlock.[1][3]

Bryce Harper, first baseman/outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, had tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth with a home run off Venezuela reliever Andrés Machado.[1][2] Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox outfielder who also played for Venezuela, earlier hit a solo home run to extend Venezuela's lead.[1][4]

The U.S. managed just two hits and four baserunners before Harper's homer.[1] Venezuela pitchers limited the heavily favored Americans, who featured a roster of MLB stars, in the country's first WBC championship.[1][5]

In a postgame interview with FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Suárez credited his faith for the victory: "I mean, what can I say about this? It’s amazing. God is good, all the glory is for the Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time."[1] He added, "We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything. Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we [won] the championship today. This is a celebration for all [of Venezuela]."

Suárez pointed skyward after the hit and said he prayed, also acknowledging his family in the stands: "God is good, man. God is good."[1] The previous day, March 16, Suárez hit a solo home run in Venezuela's win over Italy.[1]

"The union – we are together the whole time. We’re not just teammates, we’re all family," Suárez said. "This team is awesome – we are family here. That’s why we play with passion, with love because we feel that on our jersey. We feel our country on the front of us."[1]

loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins with a capacity of 36,742, hosted the 2026 WBC final as well as the 2023 championship game.[6][7] The tournament ran March 5-18 across multiple sites, with knockout rounds in Houston and Miami.[5]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, Venezuela shocks Team USA to win World Baseball Classic for first time, March 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
2. FOX Sports, World Baseball Classic 2026 final recap, March 18, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/world-baseball-classic
3. MLB.com, Eugenio Suárez player profile, accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-570558
4. MLB.com, Wilyer Abreu player profile, accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-681824
5. WBSC.org, World Baseball Classic 2026 dates and venues, January 15, 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-returning-march-5-18-with-houston-miami-hosting-knockout-phase
6. MLB.com Miami Marlins, loanDepot park information, accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/marlins/ballpark
7. Wikipedia, loanDepot park, accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoanDepot_park