Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 on Tuesday night in Miami to win their first World Baseball Classic title, a victory that resonated far beyond the diamond amid heightened political tensions between the two nations.
Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run with a double in the top of the ninth inning, and Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony to seal the triumph at LoanDepot Park. The sold-out crowd of 36,190 was overwhelmingly pro-Venezuela, and players celebrated draped in national flags.
The match took place against a backdrop of strained relations after US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social ahead of the final suggesting statehood for Venezuela, a taunt he repeated after the defeat. Venezuelan players declined to engage with the rhetoric, focusing instead on baseball.
Venezuela took an early lead in the third inning when Salvador Pérez scored on a sacrifice fly, and Wilyer Abreu added a solo home run in the fifth. The United States tied the game in the eighth when Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer, but Suárez's double in the ninth restored Venezuela's advantage.
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared Wednesday a National Day of Joy, making it a non-working holiday except for essential workers. In Caracas, thousands gathered in the streets to celebrate, singing the national anthem and honking car horns.
