Italy vs Venezuela: WBC Semifinal Preview, Time & How to Watch | 2026 World Baseball Classic
Put on the espresso because Italy is coming! For the first time in tournament history, the azzurri are in the semifinals, its team of espresso-shot-taking, cheek-kissing home run hitters blasting its way to Miami.
Italy’s improbable run through the 2026 World Baseball Classic continues tonight, , as they face Venezuela at loanDepot park at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be available on FS1 in the United States and streaming on Netflix in Japan. The FOX Sports family of networks, the FOX Sports App and Tubi will combine to air all 47 games of the tournament in the United States, with 41 contests available in Spanish as well.
The Italians have hit the second-most home runs in the tournament behind the Dominican Republic, with Vinnie Pasquantino’s three against Mexico and Dante Nori’s two homers leading the charge. Their lineup boasts a team OPS of .982, a testament to their offensive firepower. However, Italy will be without its two best starters, Aaron Nola and Samuel Aldegheri, for this crucial matchup.
Venezuela returns to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, having navigated a challenging path that included a narrow loss to the Dominican Republic and a stunning upset victory over the defending champions, Japan, in the quarterfinals. Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Luis Arraez have been key contributors for Venezuela, whereas Ezequiel Tovar’s performance in the win against Japan and Enmanuel De Jesus’s strong showing could potentially earn the latter a spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster.
This semifinal matchup pits a team riding a wave of momentum and unexpected success against a program steeped in baseball tradition. Italy is a perfect 5-0 in the tournament, having upset both the United States and Puerto Rico by an identical 8-6 score. They are the only team remaining undefeated in this year’s Classic. Venezuela, meanwhile, holds a 4-1 record, their only defeat coming against the Dominican Republic.
The probable starting pitchers are Keider Montero for Venezuela and Michael Lorenzen for Italy. The stakes are high: a win secures a spot in the championship game on .
Italy’s success in this tournament is remarkable, particularly considering their past results. In both 2013 and 2023, Italy advanced beyond the group stage but won a combined total of just four games. This year, they’ve already surpassed that total, captivating fans and garnering attention from major Italian newspapers and politicians.
Venezuela, after coming within a Trea Turner grand slam of reaching the semifinals in 2023, is back for another shot at the title. This marks their second consecutive international tournament under manager Omar López in which they’ve reached this stage, having finished fourth in the 2024 Premier12 in Tokyo. Despite consistently fielding lineups filled with MLB stars, Venezuela has never reached the championship game – a feat they’ll be aiming to achieve this time around.
The history between these two teams dates back to the 2006 and 2009 tournaments, where Venezuela won all three games by a combined score of 23-1. However, their encounters in 2017 were far more competitive, featuring two incredible contests, including a tiebreaker to determine who would advance to the second round – a scenario that no longer exists under the current World Baseball Classic rules.
The first game in 2017 saw Venezuela win 11-10 in a back-and-forth affair. Venezuela rallied from a 5-0 deficit to take a 10-8 lead in the ninth, highlighted by a two-run home run from Salvador Perez off ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte. Italy responded with an RBI ground out and a single to tie the game, but Ender Inciarte’s throw to cut down Drew Butera sent the game to extras. Martin Prado then doubled in Jose Altuve for the victory in the 11th.
The teams then faced off in a tiebreaker to decide who would finish second in the pool and advance. Venezuela was trailing 2-1 in the ninth, with John Andreoli driving in both of Italy’s runs, before staging a comeback. Miguel Cabrera hit a game-tying home run, Rougned Odor knocked in Victor Martinez, and a suicide squeeze by Alcides Escobar gave Venezuela some breathing room. Alex Liddi then smashed a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to cut the lead to one, but it wasn’t enough.
Tonight’s game promises to be a compelling clash of styles and narratives. Italy, fueled by its improbable run and a potent offense, will look to continue defying expectations. Venezuela, with its star-studded lineup and experience, will aim to finally break through and reach the championship game. The world will be watching to see if Italy can continue its magical journey or if Venezuela can reclaim its place among baseball’s elite.