It’s time for the grand finale of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The United States enters the title game looking to capture its second WBC crown after falling short in 2023, while Venezuela is chasing history with its first-ever championship appearance.
Team USA advanced with a 2-1 semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, leaning on strong pitching and just enough power to get through, even with some controversial calls. Solo home runs provided the offense, while the bullpen shut the door late against one of the tournament’s most dangerous lineups.
Venezuela, on the other hand, advanced with another comeback victory, topping Italy 4-2 thanks to a decisive three-run seventh inning. Big hits from stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. fueled the rally, continuing a trend of late-game heroics throughout the knockout rounds.
2026 world baseball classic: what to know
- Who: Team USA vs. Team Dominican Republic
- When: March 17, 8 p.m. ET
- Where: loanDepot Park (Miami, Florida)
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
With MLB stars on both lineups, this matchup promises fireworks from the very first pitch.
WBC 2026: Venezuela vs. USA start time
Tonight’s (March 15) World Baseball Classic semifinal between USA and Dominican Republic is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Venezuela vs. USA for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
Sling TV is one of our favorite ways to watch TV live and stream live baseball; its affordable Select plan includes FOX and starts at $19.99/month.
DIRECTV is another great service to try — its five-day free trial includes ABC and you can save $35 on your first month.
Venezuela vs. USA pitchers
Eduardo Rodriguez will start for Venezuela, while Mets starter Nolan McLean will be on the mound for Team USA.
Venezuela and USA starting lineups
Venezula
- Ronald Acuña Jr. , RF
- Maikel Garcia, 3B
- Luis Arraez, 1B
- Eugenio Suárez, DH
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Ezequiel Tovar, SS
- Wilyer Abreu, LF
- Salvador Perez, C
- Jackson Chourio, CF
USA
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS
- Bryce Harper, 1B
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Kyle Schwarber, DH
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Roman Anthony, LF
- Will Smith, C
- Brice Turang, 2B
- Byron Buxton, CF
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
