2026 World Baseball Classic: Venezuela stuns defending champion Japan, advances to semifinals vs. Italy

Japan's World Baseball Classic title defense is over. Saturday night at loanDepot Park in Miami, Venezuela rallied from behind to eliminate Japan ( VEN 8, JPN 5) and advance to the semifinals. Venezuela is one step away from Tuesday's Championship Game and Japan will head home following its worst World Baseball Classic finish ever.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani apologizes for 'shortcomings' in Japan's early exit from WBC

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, the MVP of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, takes partial responsibility for Japan's early exit from this year's WBC, despite posting better stats than last time.

MLB star Ronald Acuña Jr. trolls Japan after historic WBC upset

The 2026 World Baseball Classic has seen favorites Japan eliminated and MLB star Ronald Acuña Jr. had a lot to say after Venezuela's win. Acuña Jr. and his Venezuela are on track for a historic finish at this year's WBC after never placing top four in the previous five editions.
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Seiya Suzuki injury updates: Latest news on Team Japan OF after limping off field in WBC game vs. Venezuela

Japanese star Seiya Suzuki limped off the field during a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela. Here's what to know about his status.

Samurai Japan’s identity crisis led to WBC disaster

Whatever the case, Samurai Japan has a major decision to make between now and then: It has to figure out what it wants to be. Because the Japanese received a definitive verdict on the state of their game in their 8–5 loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the WBC. What they’re doing isn’t working.