THOUGHTS | VENEZUELA WINS 2026 WBC
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
In what was seen as a stunning upset of epic proportions, Team Venezuela defeated Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Sure, I was rooting for Japan, but the way Venezuela fought hard and celebrated even harder made this edition of the tournament a memorable one. And while there are critics who argue that games shouldn’t be decided in a single knockout format (tell that to NCAA March Madness), or that the Americans treated this like a glorified MLB All-Star Game, you can’t deny how much this elevated baseball on a global scale.
I'm pondering buying a Class A jersey of Shohei Ohtani’s Samurai Japan kit online, but honestly, I’m ALSO tempted to grab a blue Team Venezuela jersey just for the heck of it.
Anyway, there was one thing I noticed—not just in the highlights, but also during the broadcasts and ESPN discussions. There was little to no emphasis on how significant this victory is for the Venezuelan people. Yes, the coverage highlighted the team’s excitement and how Venezuelan fans essentially turned Miami into a home field. But the broadcasts were careful, almost hesitant, to fully connect this win to the country’s recent struggles.
I’ll just say this: while governments may target regimes they consider problematic, the people living under those systems often bear the real burden. That’s why, in some cases, neutral fans find themselves rooting for nations simply to see their people experience something positive—something they didn’t even ask to fight for in the first place.
I can understand this because Filipinos are known for going overboard with their pride whenever they see their country win something. Even those with just partial Filipino blood—we take pride in their achievements, whether it’s in an awards show, a sporting event, a singing competition, or whatever platform they use to make the world their playground.
The key word here is pride.
In a time of globalization, and no matter how much we like to think that race is no longer an issue, patriotism remains a constant. It’s one of the few things people hold on to—something that has existed ever since the world was divided into countries.
Which brings me back to Venezuela.
This wasn’t just about baseball. This was about pride. This was about giving Venezuelans a moment—however brief—to celebrate something that belongs to them. And you could see it in the way the players competed. They weren’t just playing to win a trophy; they were playing for something bigger.
Meanwhile, Team USA, despite its stacked roster, didn’t always carry that same urgency. That’s not to say they didn’t care—but there’s a difference between playing to win and playing for something deeply personal.
And that’s what made the difference.
Venezuela didn’t just win because of talent. They won because they played with purpose.
I’m happy they pulled it off. And if there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that I hope Team USA comes back in the next World Baseball Classic with that same fire—playing not just as a collection of stars, but as a team fully driven by national pride.
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