Venezuela come from behind to beat Italy, will play the World Baseball Classic Final against the USA

The 2026 World Baseball Classic reaches Day 11 as the knockout stage continues with the second semifinal.

World No. 5 Venezuela defeated No. 14 Italy in front of 35,382 fans at loanDepot Park in Miami to advance to the World Baseball Classic Final. They will face No. 3 USA, which defeated No. 12 Dominican Republic in the first semifinal.

• Day 1 recap
• Day 2 recap
• Day 3 recap
• Day 4 recap
• Day 5 recap
• Day 6 recap
• Day 7 recap
• Day 8 recap
• Day 9 recap
• Day 10 recap

World Baseball Classic Day 11

SEMIFINALS

Venezuela-Italy 4-2

Italy scored first, left three runners on base in the bottom of the sixth and took a 2-1 lead into the seventh, when Venezuela took control of the game thanks to three consecutive two-out RBI singles (Ronald Acuña, Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez) against Michael Lorenzen. Angel Zerpa, Eduard Bazardo and Daniel Palencia got the final eight outs, allowing Italy only one hit and a walk.

The Philadelphia Phillies star Aaron Nola took the mound for Italy, while Venezuela handed the ball to Keider Montero.

Italy took the lead in the bottom of the second. Designated hitter Zac Dezenzo reached on a one-out single. He became the first runner in scoring position when Jac Caglianone walked. Montero walked Andrew Fischer on five pitches to load the bases and invite pitching coach Johan Santana to the first visit of the night. Venezuela's starter also walked J.J. D'Orazio on six pitches and allowed the first run of the night.

Venezuela handed the ball to left-hander Ricardo Sanchez. The reliever got the second out on a force-play at second, but couldn't prevent the second Italian run. Sanchez got out of the inning on a groundout to first base.

Venezuela got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Designated hitter Eugenio Suarez fouled off Nola's first offering, then crushed a curveball low and outside and drove it over the centre field wall for a solo home run.

Right-hander Luinder Avila took the mound for Venezuela in the bottom of the fourth.

Italy went to the bullpen in the top of the fifth and handed the ball to Michael Lorenzen.

The Azzurri stranded a scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth. Dezenzo led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced on Jac Caglianone's swinging bunt.

With Italy in scoring position and one out, Venezuela called Angel Zerpa from the bullpen. The hard-throwing left-hander struck out Fischer, then intentionally walked J.J. D'Orazio to get to left-handed batter Dante Nori. Italy's left fielder reached on a chopper over the mound to load the bases. Zerpa got Antonacci looking at a 95 miles-per-hour sinker on the outside corner to get out of the jam.

Venezuela reversed the lead in the top of the seventh. Gleyber Torres drew a walk to lead off the seventh, then left for pinch runner Andrés Gimenez. Lorenzen got Wylier Abreu and Contreras on strikes, then allowed centre fielder Jackson Chourio a two-out single that brought Gimenez to third. Ronald Acuña hit a sharp grounder to shortstop and beat the throw to first. Gimenez scored the tying run, and Chourio advanced to third. He scored on Maikel Garcia's RBI single. Venezuela made it 4-2 when first baseman Luis Arraez singled to left field and sent Lorenzen to the showers.

Right-hander Kyle Nicolas used just one pitch to retire Eugenio Suarez and end the at-bat.

Eduard Bazardo pitched a perfect seventh for Venezuela and left for right-hander Andrés Machado in the bottom of the eight.

Ron Marinaccio took the mound for Italy in the ninth.

Closer Daniel Palencia retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth and sent Venezuela to the World Championship Final.

Looking ahead to Day 12

No. 5 Venezuela will face No. 3 USA in the World Championship Final on Tuesday, March 17, at 20:00 local time (midnight GMT) at loanDepot Park in Miami.

The Bracket

LA 2028 Qualification Process

The 2026 World Baseball Classic also forms part of the qualification pathway to LA28. Three of the six participants in the baseball tournament at the Olympic Games competed in the VI World Baseball Classic.
The USA qualified as the host nation of the LA28 Games.
The Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualified as the two highest-placed teams from the Americas.

The LA 28 qualification process will resume in November 2027 with the WBSC Premier12, which will qualify the top finisher among the Asian Teams and the top finisher among the teams from Europe and Ocenia.

A six-team final qualifier, including two teams from Asia, two teams from Europe, one from Oceania and one from Africa, will award the last spot in early 2028.

Cover Photo: WBCI/MLB Photos by Getty Images