Italy Reaches World Baseball Classic Semifinals, Defeats Puerto Rico 8-6

HOUSTON – Italy continued its remarkable run in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, securing a spot in the semifinals with an 8-6 victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday at Daikin Park. The Azzurri, comprised largely of Italian-American players, have exceeded expectations throughout the tournament, including an upset win over Team USA in pool play.

A Dream Run for Italy

Italy’s journey to the semifinals marks the farthest the team has advanced in the six World Baseball Classic tournaments in which it has participated. Previously, their best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 2023, where they were eliminated by Japan. This year, fueled by a young lineup with an average age of 23.8, Italy has demonstrated both offensive power and resilience.

Game Recap: Italy vs. Puerto Rico

The game began with a leadoff home run by Puerto Rico’s Willi Castro. Still, Italy quickly responded with four runs in the first inning, chasing Puerto Rico’s starting pitcher, Seth Lugo, after just one out. Italy extended their lead with another four runs in the fourth inning, taking an 8-2 advantage.

Puerto Rico attempted a comeback in the eighth inning, scoring four runs, but Italy held on, with a crucial strikeout by Nick Morabito against Eddie Rosario sealing the victory. The final score was 8-6 in favor of Italy.

Looking Ahead: Semifinal Matchup

Italy will now face Venezuela in the semifinals, which will be held at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Monday night. Venezuela advanced after defeating Japan in their quarterfinal matchup. The other semifinal will feature the Dominican Republic against the United States, who won their respective quarterfinal games against South Korea (10-0) and Canada (5-3).

Italy’s Path to the Semifinals

Throughout the tournament, Italy has showcased a potent offense, hitting 12 home runs in pool play – second only to the Dominican Republic. Prior to the quarterfinal win against Puerto Rico, Italy secured victories against Brazil (8-0) and Great Britain (7-4). Their upset victory over Team USA, 8-6, and a 9-1 win over Mexico were also pivotal in their undefeated pool play performance.

Historical Context and Olympic Baseball

Italy’s best result in a world championship was a fourth-place finish in both 1974 and 1998. Baseball will return to the Olympic program at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with only six teams participating. Both the Dominican Republic and the United States have already qualified for the Olympic tournament through their performance in the World Baseball Classic.