The Final · 9th Inning
Suárez delivers, Palencia closes it
Venezuela trailed going into the 9th before Luís Arráez walked and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second. Eugenio Suárez then lined a double to score Sanoja. Daniel Palencia struck out the side in the 9th to seal it. "Nobody believed in Venezuela. But now we win the championship." — Suárez on FOX.
Bottom of the 8th
Harper's 432-foot moonshot ties it
Bryce Harper had struggled all tournament at the plate — then launched a 432-foot, game-tying two-run homer off Andrés Machado to dead center field, sending loanDepot Park into a frenzy. It wasn't enough. Venezuela regrouped and answered immediately.
Tournament MVP · Kansas City Royals
Maikel García — 10 hits, 7 RBI
Maikel García was Venezuela's engine all tournament. His sacrifice fly opened the scoring in the final. His clutch home run in the quarterfinal against Japan was the defining moment of that upset. 10 hits and 7 RBI across the knockout stage.
Cinderella Story · Pool B
Italy goes 5-0 through pool play
Italy's run was the tournament's great surprise — an unbeaten pool record, knocking out Japan-conquerors in the bracket, and making it all the way to the semifinal against Venezuela. Their 4–2 loss to Venezuela ended one of the WBC's great underdog runs. Team Italy's Francisco Cervelli managed brilliantly.
Japan · Worst-Ever WBC Finish
Defending champs out in the quarterfinals
Japan entered 2026 as three-time champions and heavy favorites. Venezuela eliminated them in the quarterfinals — Japan's earliest ever exit. Wilyer Abreu's three-run HR was the death blow. It was the first time Japan failed to reach the semifinals in WBC history.
Salvador Pérez · Four WBCs
"I feel like I can retire"
Venezuela captain Salvador Pérez, playing his fourth WBC since 2013, set the tone in the final with a leadoff single in the 3rd that started the scoring. His post-game quote became the tournament's most emotional moment: "To make all 30 million people happy — they deserved it."
Back-to-Back Nights
Three MLB teams texted Venezuela's manager before the final
Venezuela played the SF and final on back-to-back nights, needing 23 bullpen outs against Italy. Manager Omar López said three MLB clubs texted him before the final requesting their relievers not pitch consecutive nights. Venezuela's bullpen held USA to a single two-run homer over 4⅔ innings anyway.
Canada · Historic First
Canada advances out of pool play for the first time ever
Canada won Pool A, making it out of pool play for the first time in WBC history. Cal Quantrill pitched five strong innings. They fell to the USA in the quarterfinals 5–3, but the breakthrough was historic for Canadian baseball.