Venezuela gives “glory to God” after winning the World Baseball Classic
Several players expressed their gratitude to God following the historic victory over the United States.
Protestante Digital · MIAMI · 18 MARCH 2026 · 18:15 CET
The Venezuelan baseball national team won the 2026 World Baseball Classic, beating the United States 3–2 in the final held at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
This is the team's first title in the tournament's history, which is considered the biggest international baseball championship for national teams.
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The match was decided in the ninth inning thanks to a run-scoring double by Eugenio Suárez that brought home the winning run. Venezuela had initially taken the lead, but a run by Bryce Harper tied the score in the eighth inning before the final outcome.
¡¡MÁS QUE UN DEPORTE!!
Relevesita de Venezuela, Daniel Palencia, llorando antes de hacer el último ponche para darle el campeonato mundial a su país. Hace el ponche, se colapsa en lagrimas y todo el dugout se va a abrazarlo. pic.twitter.com/ATzp55Amzt
— MLB a lo Mexicano (@MLBAloMex) March 18, 2026
This victory makes Venezuela the second Latin American country to win the tournament, after the Dominican Republic won it undefeated in 2013.
TEAM VENEZUELA WINS ITS FIRST #WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC! pic.twitter.com/pysxBJiZZf
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 18, 2026
Beyond the sporting result, several Venezuelan players publicly expressed their Christian faith during the tournament.
Before it began, a video of a prayer led by Eugenio Suárez with other team members went viral on social media.
Following their victory in the final, Javier Sanoja also spoke about his faith in an interview with the media. “God’s plans are perfect... We had to keep fighting. Thank God we kept going and got back on our feet”, he said.
For several of the players, the championship was an opportunity to represent their country and publicly express their gratitude to God. Throughout the tournament, the team could be seen praying and giving thanks at various moments.
Such gestures were not exclusive to Venezuela. Similar expressions of faith and gratitude to God were also visible among other Caribbean teams, such as the Dominican Republic, reflecting a spiritual dimension that many players consider to be inseparable from their personal and professional lives.
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