Venezuela defeats USA to win World Baseball Classic

Chante Ho Hip

Chante Ho Hip

20 March 2026 | 7:50

The tense final played out against a backdrop of political tensions, said world news correspondent Adam Gilchrist.

Venezuela defeats USA to win World Baseball Classic

Venezuela's National Team members celebrate following the victory over the U.S.A. during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, United States on March 17, 2026. Venezuela defeated U.S.A 3-2 to capture the championship.( The Yomiuri Shimbun ) (Photo by Koki Kataoka / Yomiuri / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP)

Venezuela scored a stunning 3-2 upset in a nail-biting final against the United States to claim the World Baseball Classic for the first time.

Eugenio Suarez drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth innings to seal a victory for Venezuela over America’s ‘star-studded’ team.

"The country needs this happiness with all the things that we've gone through," designated hitter Eugenio Suárez said in Spanish.

The tense final played out against a backdrop of political tensions.

World news correspondent Adam Gilchrist explained that Team USA's campaign emphasised the country's 'America First' narrative, paying tribute to its military.

"But ultimately, it was sport that won because it seemed to me like a lot of the other teams just wanted to have a good time," he said.

To listen to Gilchrist in conversation with 702’s Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below (skip to 2.23):

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