Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 to win its first World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday night, sealed by a walk-off double by Eugenio Suárez in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The victory completed a dream run for the Venezuelan squad, who finished the tournament with a 6-1 record. For the United States, the loss marks their second consecutive defeat in the WBC final, having fallen to Japan, 3-2, in 2023.

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Venezuela struck first, scratching across a run in the third inning. Salvador Pérez touched home plate on a sacrifice fly from Maikel Pérez, a rally aided by a costly throwing error from U.S. pitcher Nolan McLean. The lead doubled in the following frame when Wilyer Abreu crushed a solo home run, staking the Venezuelan squad to a 2-0 advantage.

While the offense built a lead, the story of the night was the Venezuelan pitching staff. Starter Eduardo Rodríguez set the tone, silencing a star-studded U.S. lineup featuring Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, and Bobby Witt Jr. The U.S. offense managed just three hits total on the night and struggled to generate any consistent threat against a relentless Venezuelan bullpen.

Venezuela’s pitching was in control until the eighth inning. Then, U.S. player Bryce Harper stepped up and crushed a two-run homer off Andrés Machado, tying the game 2-2 and changing everything.

That’s when Luis Arráez first stepped up, drawing a walk, and subsequently Sanoja, who replaced him in search of the winning run. His speed allowed him to steal second base – after a review – and then score on Suárez’s double.

Daniel Palencia, on the mound, struck out Kyle Schwarber, forced a flyout from Gunnar Henderson, and struck out Roman Anthony to seal the victory and the title for Venezuela.

The win caps a dominant postseason run for Venezuela, who previously knocked off Japan (8-5) in the quarterfinals and Italy (4-2) in the semifinals.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared March 18, 2026, a non-working day of national celebration.

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