WBC 2026: Italy-Venezuela preview, live updates, analysis
Published on March 16, 2026.
The World Baseball Classic (WBC 2026) is set to begin with a showdown between Italy and Venezuela, with the United States winning 2-1 against the Dominican Republic. This will be the third consecutive WBC final for the team. ESPN baseball experts Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan have highlighted the key factors that will determine who will move on to the championship. The game will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday. Key players for Venezuela include Keider Montero, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Jackson Chourio. The Italian team has been a surprise in the tournament, making its first WBC semifinal.
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