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Venezuela Claims First WBC Title, Shocking USA 3-2

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Venezuela won the 2026 World Baseball Classic by defeating the United States 3-2 in the championship.
This marked Venezuela's first WBC title in the tournament's 20-year history.
The final drew a record 10,784,000 viewers on Fox and Fox Deportes, peaking at 12.15 million.
The tournament averaged 1,294,000 viewers, up 156% from the previous event.
U.S. manager Mark DeRosa faced criticism for his pitching decisions.

History

Historical Context

The inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, held from March 3 to 20, featured 16 teams, including the United States and Venezuela, and attracted over 737,000 fans. Japan won the tournament, defeating Cuba 10-6 in the final. This event marked a significant shift in baseball's global landscape, highlighting the rising competitiveness of international teams and potentially inspiring increased investment in baseball programs across Latin America.

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Story summary

Venezuela won the 2026 World Baseball Classic by defeating the United States 3-2 in the championship.
This marked Venezuela's first WBC title in the tournament's 20-year history.
The final drew a record 10,784,000 viewers on Fox and Fox Deportes, peaking at 12.15 million.
The tournament averaged 1,294,000 viewers, up 156% from the previous event.
U.S. manager Mark DeRosa faced criticism for his pitching decisions.

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