Venezuela and Italy to Clash in World Baseball Classic Semifinals

The stage is set for an exciting semifinal matchup in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as Venezuela prepares to face Italy on Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET at loanDepot park in Miami. This marks Italy’s first-ever appearance in the tournament semifinals, while Venezuela returns to this stage for the first time since 2009.

Italy’s Historic Run

Italy has surged through the tournament, showcasing a powerful offense. They have hit the second-most home runs in the tournament, trailing only the Dominican Republic, with notable performances from Vinnie Pasquantino (three home runs against Mexico) and Dante Nori (two home runs). The team boasts a .982 team OPS, but will be without their top two starters, Aaron Nola and Samuel Aldegheri, for this crucial game.

Venezuela’s Quarterfinal Upset

Venezuela secured their spot in the semifinals with a stunning 8-5 victory over defending champion Japan. This win also guarantees Venezuela a place in the six-team field for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Key players for Venezuela include Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Luis Arraez, with Ezequiel Tovar delivering a standout performance in the quarterfinal win against Japan. Enmanuel De Jesus, who has been playing in the KBO, has also impressed during the tournament.

Head-to-Head History

Venezuela and Italy have faced each other three times in past World Baseball Classic tournaments (2006 and 2009), with Venezuela winning all three games by a combined score of 23-1.

Broadcast Information

The semifinal game will be available on FS1 in the United States and streamed live on Netflix in Japan. The FOX Sports family of networks will air all 47 games of the tournament in the U.S., with matchups also available on FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, and Tubi. A free English-language audio stream will also be available.

Other Semifinal Matchup

The other semifinal game will feature Team USA against the Dominican Republic on Sunday, March 15.