The United States punched its ticket to the WBC final on Sunday with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the star-studded Dominican Republic side. The game was tight from start to finish, with pitching being the deciding factor.
Now, the US awaits the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semi-final match on Monday night. It’s a game that the Americans will be watching closely. The outcome, of course, is crucial given what’s at stake.
But the possibility of a US-Venezuela WBC final has to be an ironic turn of events.
The political backdrop for the WBC championship game is similar to the one surrounding hockey’s 4 Nations Face-Off last year between the US and Canada. The political tensions created a special sort of buzz around that championship game.
Tensions got so high that four fights broke out in the first minute of that matchup. Canada won the 4 Nations Face-Off, but the US got revenge at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
There is no fighting in baseball, of course. Well, there could be, but it’s not nearly as prevalent as it is in hockey. But the tensions around the US and Venezuela could add another layer of intensity to the WBC final.
The game itself should be a classic. The dominant pitching on the US side has made up for the seemingly lack of big lumber. That was by design. Cy Young winner Paul Skenes kept the Dominicans honest.
And that’s what it will take for the US to get past Venezuela or Italy in the WBC final.
WBC Final Could Feature Black Swan
Italy was a black swan that has added greater drama to this WBC. They were the type of ballclub that had some talented players, but didn’t really seem poised to make it to the semi-final. The Italians got off to a strong start with an 8-0 win over Brazil. They followed that up with a 7-4 win over Great Britain.
But it was the stunning 8-6 upset win over the US that set Italy on a path to the WBC final. They ended their improbable pool play with a 9-1 pounding of Mexico, putting them in quarterfinal.
Italy faced a strong Puerto Rico team that hung tough, but just couldn’t get past the plucky Italian side. Now, the European team could be the first to make it to the WBC Final.
If that were the case, the US would have a shot at revenge.
US-Italy Championship Game Would Be One for Ages
A US-Italy WBC final would be one for the ages. The backdrop of the US looking to avenge their earlier defeat would add more drama to this game. By the same token, the Italians emerging as a black swan is a great thing for baseball globally.
An Italian victory would certainly make WBC history. Granted, the bulk of players on the Italian side are US-born, but that’s somewhat besides the point. The Italians find themselves in a great spot. They have already beaten the US once.
That’s why there’s no reason to believe they couldn’t do it again. However, the US will be looking to get its second title in three tournaments. So, there will be plenty of incentive for the US to make this WBC final a true classic.
WBC Final: Drama to Surround Potential US-Venezuela Title Game