Italy’s World Boxing Championship run ends with Venezuela winning 4-2 in the semi-finals

Venezuela is over Magical WBC tour of Italy on Monday night, coming from behind to beat them, 4-2 at Loan Depot Park, and secure a spot In the final match against the United States.

Italy was the surprise team of the tournament, knocking out the United States in pool play before defeating Mexico to finish 4-0 in the second set.

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Eugenio Suarez of Team Venezuela celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Italy in the fourth inning at Loan Depot Park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

But it’s a win-win Mexico It also kept Team USA alive in the tournament, allowing them to advance to the quarterfinals, where they defeated Canada before pulling off a thrilling 2-1 semifinal win over the Dominican Republic on Sunday night to punch their ticket to the final.

While it was only fitting that the United States and Italy would meet again to determine who would win it all before the start of 2026. MLB Last season, Venezuela had other things on its mind during the bottom of the seventh inning.

Down 2-1 in the game, Venezuela found themselves threatened with a potential two-out lead after Milwaukee Brewers rookie star Jackson Chorio singled to center field, allowing Andres Giménez to advance to third base.

That’s when Ronald Acuña Jr., the face of Venezuelan baseball, reached first with a single that allowed Jimenez to score, tying the game at two goals apiece. But the rally is not over yet.

The Venezuelans caught fire after Acuña’s single, as Michael Garcia singled to left field, scored Chorio, and Luis Arraez brought home Acuña. With two outs, Venezuela took all the momentum with a three-run seventh inning that made the score 4-2.

Italy had been clinging to the lead since the end of the second inning, when they made the most of a bases-loaded situation. JJ D’Orazio headed home while Dante Nouri hit a fielder’s choice and scored another to give Italy a 2-0 lead.

Slugger Eugenio Suarez got Venezuela on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the deficit to one. But they weren’t able to muster extra offense until that seventh inning.

From there, Italy was never able to get the rally going, as Daniel Palencia eventually closed the door in the ninth inning, striking out the final two Italian hitters.

While Venezuela celebrated, Italy hung its heads, but its story this month was astonishing. Their espresso machine has mushroomed in the dugout — which Kansas City Royals captain Vinny Pasquantino helped turn into a home run celebration — as they continue to find success. The roster includes well-known MLB stars, top prospects and players with Italian heritage, and has drawn praise from big-name players over the past two weeks.

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But it’s Venezuela, stocked with the best talent in the MLB, ready to take on Team USA and rookie Nolan McClain, whom Italy touched in a pool game, on Tuesday night to determine who has the right to call itself the best baseball team in the world for at least the next three years.

Team USA and Venezuela will face each other at 8pm ET on FOX.

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