2026 World Baseball Classic bracket, results: Venezuela upsets Team USA in title game

Venezuela is the champion of the 2026 World Baseball Classic after upsetting Team USA 3-2 in dramatic fashion in Tuesday night’s title game.

Venezuela held a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning earlier than Bryce Harper tied issues up with a towering two-run dwelling run on the backside of the body. But the game wasn’t tied for lengthy as Eugenio Suárez slugged a clutch double on the highest of the ninth to place Venezuela again in entrance. Daniel Palencia then shut the door on the backside of the ninth to mark the primary World Baseball Classic title in Venezuela’s historical past and USA’s second straight runner-up end.

Venezuela needed to stage a comeback in the semifinals to beat Cinderella story Italy and arrange Tuesday’s showdown with Team USA, who gained a tense 2-1 semifinal showdown in opposition to the Dominican Republic on Sunday night time in Miami due to solely dwelling runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony.

The American bats had been largely quiet in opposition to the DR, and the story was the identical in the title game as a powerhouse lineup that included Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Schwarber mustered solely three hits in a disappointing exhibiting.

Here’s a have a look at the 2026 World Baseball Classic bracket:

2026 World Baseball Classic bracket

Team USA’s development out of pool play was extra nerve-wracking than anticipated, however the Americans acquired by to the semifinals due to Italy’s win over Mexico. Team USA misplaced to Italy the Italy-Mexico end result. A slender Mexico win would’ve despatched the Americans packing.

Team USA completed in second place in Pool B, going 3-1 in group play. The US simply beat Brazil and Great Britain earlier than a detailed win over Mexico. The Americans then shockingly misplaced to Italy and arrange a situation the place their quarterfinal destiny was out of their fingers. Italy, although, completed off an ideal spherical of pool play by beating Mexico to earn first place in Pool B. Italy’s win over Mexico prevented the knockout spots from being decided by the complicated WBC tiebreaker rules.

World Baseball Classic knockout outcomes

Quarterfinals

Friday, March 13
Dominican Republic 10, Korea 0 (7)
United States 5, Canada 3

Saturday, March 14
Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
Venezuela 8, Japan 5

Semifinals

Sunday, March 15
United States 2, Dominican Republic 1

Monday, March 16
Venezuela 4, Italy 2

championship game

Tuesday, March 17
Venezuela 3, United States 2