Venezuela vs Italy 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal: How to watch WBC matchup, time, TV, rosters and more

The winner of the Venezuela vs Italy clash will advance to Tuesday’s title game against the USA.

Aachal Maniyar
Published17 Mar 2026, 02:48 AM IST
Venezuela vs Italy, WBC semifinal
Venezuela vs Italy, WBC semifinal(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Venezuela and Italy are set to collide in a blockbuster 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup, with the winner punching their ticket to face the United States in Tuesday’s championship game. After Venezuela shocked defending champions Japan and Italy stunned Puerto Rico to reach this stage, baseball fans will be treated to an electric underdog-versus-power matchup at loanDepot park in Miami.

Venezuela vs Italy WBC semifinal: Matchup timing

First pitch is set for 8:00 PM ET on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Also Read | Ondrej Satoria announces retirement from national team after final WBC game

How to watch Venezuela vs Italy WBC semifinal matchup

US viewers can watch live on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), with streaming options available through FoxSports.com and Fubo.

Venezuela and Italy's path to the semifinal

Venezuela arrived riding momentum from their 8-5 quarterfinal upset of Japan, highlighted by Wilyer Abreu’s clutch home run. Italy, meanwhile, remain perfect through five games and made history with their first-ever WBC semifinal berth after an 8-6 thriller over Puerto Rico.

Also Read | World Baseball Classic 2026 full schedule: Dates, times, and key matchups

Venezuela’s star-studded 2026 WBC roster

Venezuela’s lineup blends proven MLB stars with rising talent.

Pitchers: Ranger Suárez (Red Sox), Keider Montero (Tigers), Eduardo Rodríguez (D-backs), Antonio Senzatela (Rockies), Daniel Palencia (Cubs), José Alvarado (Phillies), Jhonathan Díaz (Mariners), Christian Suárez (Dodgers), Luinder Ávila (Royals), Anthony Molina (Rockies), Eduard Bazardo (Mariners), José Buttó (Giants), Enmanuel De Jesus (Tigers), Angel Zerpa (Brewers), Carlos Guzmán (Mets), Ricardo Sánchez (Free Agent), Andrés Machado (NPB).

Infielders: Luis Arráez (Giants), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), Andrés Giménez (Blue Jays), Maikel García (Royals), Eugenio Suárez (Reds), Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies), Willson Contreras (Red Sox – often 1B/DH).

Outfielders: Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox), Javier Sanoja (Marlins).

Catchers: Salvador Pérez (Royals), William Contreras (Brewers).

Italy’s resilient 2026 WBC roster

Italy’s squad features big-league experience and surprising power.

Pitchers: Sam Aldegheri (Angels), Aaron Nola (Phillies), Michael Lorenzen (Rockies), Greg Weissert (Red Sox), Joe Jacques (Red Sox), Matt Festa (Guardians), Alek Jacob (Padres), Joe La Sorsa (Pirates), Ron Marinaccio (Padres), Dan Altavilla (Twins), Gordon Graceffo (Cardinals), Kyle Nicolas (Pirates), Alessandro Ercolani (Pirates), Adam Ottavino (Free Agent), Gabriele Quattrini (Hotsand Macerata), Camden Minacci (Angels).

Also Read | USA edge Dominican Republic 2-1 in WBC semifinal to reach third straight final

Infielders: Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals), Thomas Saggese (Cardinals), Sam Antonacci (White Sox), Andrew Fischer (Brewers), Zach Dezenzo (Astros), Jon Berti (Free Agent), Brayan Rocchio (Guardians), Giaconino Lasaracina.

Outfielders: Jac Caglianone (Royals), Dominic Canzone (Mariners), Jakob Marsee (Marlins), Dante Nori (Phillies), Nick Morabito (Mets).

Catchers: JJ D’Orazio (Guardians), Mickey Gasper (Red Sox), Alberto Mineo (Parma Clima).

World Baseball Classic final

The winner of the Venezuela vs Italy clash will advance to Tuesday’s title game against the USA at 8 PM ET.

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

Get Latest real-time updates

Stay updated with all the latest news and insights on Cricket, Football, and Tennis at Livemint Sports. Catch the live action of theT20 World Cup 2026 with the complete T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule, and the T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts for Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 and Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2026.

HomeSportsVenezuela vs Italy 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal: How to watch WBC matchup, time, TV, rosters and more
More