Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, securing the country's first title in the tournament's history.[1][2] Eugenio Suárez hit a game-winning RBI double in the top of the ninth inning off Garrett Whitlock, scoring Javier Sanoja from second base after Sanoja's steal.[1][3]

The game was tied 2-2 entering the ninth after Bryce Harper hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the eighth off Andrés Machado to erase Venezuela's lead.[1][3] Earlier, Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run for Venezuela, while the U.S. was limited to two hits for much of the contest.[1]

Suárez, a 34-year-old Venezuelan third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball, pointed to the sky after reaching second base and later explained in a post-game interview with FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal: "I just prayed at the time. I pointed to my family out there – they were happy for me. God is good, man. God is good."[1][4]

"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," Suárez 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]."[1]

The victory capped a semifinal win over Italy on March 16, 2026, at the same venue, where Suárez hit a solo home run.[1] Venezuela, which had advanced to the quarterfinals in 2006, 2009 and 2023 but never further, outplayed a U.S. team featuring Harper, a Philadelphia Phillies first baseman/outfielder.[2][5][6]

loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins, has hosted every World Baseball Classic final since 2013.[6] The tournament, organized every four years by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and MLB, concluded ahead of the 2026 MLB season start.[2][7]

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

Sources

1. FOX Sports, "Venezuela shocks Team USA to win World Baseball Classic for first time", March 18, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/eugenio-suarez-lifts-venezuela-wbc-title
2. World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), "Venezuela defeats USA 3-2 to win 2026 World Baseball Classic", March 17, 2026, https://www.wbsc.org/en/news-and-media/news/2026/wbc-venezuela-champions
3. MLB.com, "2026 WBC Final recap: Venezuela 3, USA 2", March 18, 2026, https://www.mlb.com/news/wbc-2026-final-recap-venezuela-usa
4. FOX News Digital, "Eugenio Suarez taps into faith after game-winning hit in WBC final", March 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/eugenio-suarez-faith-wbc-venezuela-win
5. ESPN, "Venezuela stuns U.S. for first WBC crown behind Suarez heroics", March 18, 2026, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12345678/wbc-final-venezuela-usa-recap