Italy Stuns Team USA in World Baseball Classic Upset

In a shocking turn of events at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Italy defeated Team USA 8-6 on March 10, marking one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. The game, held at Daikin Park in Houston, saw Italy, primarily composed of American players with Italian heritage, take an early commanding lead, which they maintained despite a late rally from the Americans. Italy's victory places Team USA's advancement to the knockout stage in jeopardy, as they now await the outcome of the final Pool B game between Italy and Mexico.

Italy jumped to an 8-0 lead by the sixth inning, thanks to home runs from Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci, and Jac Caglianone. Teel's solo shot in the second inning opened the scoring, followed by Antonacci's two-run homer, and Caglianone's two-run blast in the fourth. The Americans struggled offensively for much of the game, with their first run coming in the sixth inning from a solo home run by Gunnar Henderson.

New York Post

Despite a spirited comeback attempt, including two home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong and an RBI single from Roman Anthony, Team USA could not overcome the deficit. The game concluded with Aaron Judge striking out as the tying run, sealing Italy's historic win.

ESPN

With this loss, Team USA finished pool play with a 3-1 record. Their fate now hinges on the outcome of the Italy vs. Mexico game. If Italy wins, both Italy and Team USA will advance to the knockout stage. However, if Mexico wins, all three teams—Italy, Mexico, and the USA—will finish with 3-1 records, necessitating a complicated tiebreaker based on runs allowed per defensive out.

Explaining All The World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Scenarios For Team USA, Italy And MexicoCBS SportsCBS SportsUSA TodayAfter Beating Mexico, USA Isn't Looking Past Unbeaten Italy At WBCBleacher ReportItaly Stuns Team USA 8–6 as Aaron Judge Strikes Out to End WBC ThrillerFanSided

Currently, Team USA has allowed 11 runs in their games against Italy and Mexico, while Italy has allowed six runs and Mexico five. The tiebreaker rules stipulate that the team with the lowest quotient of runs allowed divided by defensive outs will advance. This puts Team USA in a precarious position, as they may be eliminated if Mexico wins while allowing fewer than six runs.

Explaining All The World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Scenarios For Team USA, Italy And MexicoCBS SportsBleacher ReportUSA TodayAfter Beating Mexico, USA Isn't Looking Past Unbeaten Italy At WBCReutersCBS SportsESPN

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa faced scrutiny for his pre-game comments, where he mistakenly indicated that the team had already secured a spot in the quarterfinals. After the game, he acknowledged his error, stating, "I misspoke... completely misread the calculations." This miscalculation may have contributed to a lack of urgency in the lineup decisions, as DeRosa opted to rest several key players, including Bryce Harper.

Italy Upset Latest Shocking Loss For Team USA

As Team USA awaits the outcome of the Italy-Mexico match, the implications of this upset extend beyond just the current tournament. Italy's victory not only boosts their chances of advancing but also serves as a significant moment for baseball in Italy, showcasing the potential of their players on an international stage.

Italy Stuns Team USA 8–6 as Aaron Judge Strikes Out to End WBC Thriller

The final game of Pool B will be critical for determining the fate of Team USA, who must now rely on Italy to secure their own advancement to the knockout rounds.

Italy Stuns Team USA 8–6 as Aaron Judge Strikes Out to End WBC Thriller