Tournament Recap

The 2026 World Baseball Classic concluded with Venezuela securing the championship title, defeating the USA in a closely contested final at Miami’s loanDepot park with a score of 3-2. Maikel Garcia was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Final Score

Venezuela 3, USA 2

Key Results & Bracket Highlights

Here’s a look at some of the key results from throughout the tournament:

• March 4: Australia 3, Chinese Taipei 0
• March 5: Australia 5, Czechia 1
• March 6: USA 15, Brazil 5
• March 6: Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0 (7 innings)
• March 6: Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0 (7 innings)
• March 7: Japan 8, Korea 6
• March 7: Chinese Taipei 5, Korea 4 (10 innings)
• March 8: Japan 4, Australia 3
• March 9: Korea 7, Australia 2
• March 10: Japan 9, Czechia 0
• March 13: USA 5, Canada 3
• March 13: Dominican Republic 10, Korea 0
• March 14: Venezuela 8, Japan 5
• March 14: Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
• March 15: USA 2, Dominican Republic 1

The full bracket and complete results are available on MLB.com.

Chinese Taipei’s Performance

Chinese Taipei participated in Pool C, facing tough competition. They achieved a victory against Czechia (14-0) but suffered losses against Australia (3-0 and later 7-2) and Japan (13-0). They also secured a win against Korea (5-4 in 10 innings).

The team’s roster included 15 players from the CPBL, 9 from the MLB system, 5 from NPB, and 1 free agent, comprising 16 pitchers, 3 catchers, 7 infielders, and 4 outfielders. The full roster can be found here.

Political Context: Taiwan Premier’s Attendance

Taiwan Executive President Zhuo Rongtai attended a game on March 7, sparking discussion. Foreign Minister Lin Jialong stated, For Taiwan-Japan relations, the most essential thing is to see what we do, not what we say. Lin Jialong also noted that high-level visits, regardless of their official designation, carry diplomatic significance.

Concerns were raised regarding altered documents circulating online related to Zhuo Rongtai’s trip, with accusations of attempts to mislead public opinion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the documents were altered, noting inconsistencies with official formatting and the inclusion of simplified Chinese characters.

FAQ

• Who won the 2026 World Baseball Classic? Venezuela defeated the USA in the final.
• What was the final score? Venezuela won 3-2.
• Where was the final played? Miami’s loanDepot park.
• Who was named MVP? Maikel Garcia.