Following the U.S. strike on Caracas, there is no certainty that Venezuela will be able to participate in next year’s WBC.
Venezuela’s involvement in the World Baseball Classic is up in the air
The U.S.’s strike on Venezuela, which saw American forces capture the South American country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, has also rippled into the sports world. The most immediate impact concerns the World Baseball Classic, which in theory should feature Venezuela as one of its marquee participants. But events in recent days have cast doubt on the involvement of a team widely viewed as a contender for the WBC title.
“No discussion about it”
Two sources have told AS USA that, so far, there has been no official confirmation, even though Venezuela has been on the WBC schedule for the past eight months. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which sanctions and co‑organizes the tournament alongside Major League Baseball, has no clarity on whether La Vinotinto will take part and is waiting for an update in the coming days.
The WBC has Venezuela slated to play in Group D at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. Their scheduled opponents are the Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, in that order. Their tournament debut is set for March 6. However, Marlins leadership also remains unsure whether Venezuela will actually appear. “There’s been no discussion about it,” a source said, noting that since most Venezuelan players live in the United States, assembling the roster would not pose a major issue. As of now, there is no indication of any boycott.
The complications are mostly logistical. Players don’t receive direct compensation for taking part in the tournament, and any additional incentive depends on bonuses and performance‑based prize money tied to how deep the team advances. The national team is overseen by the Venezuelan Baseball Federation (Fevebeisbol), which has relied on financial support from Maduro’s government. Fevebeisbol is also affiliated with the National Sports Institute, the public body that regulates sports programs and funding in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s stars for the World Baseball Classic
The preliminary roster for La Vinotinto includes several MLB stars - among them Salvador Pérez, José Altuve, and Luis Arráez. However, the lineup is not yet finalized, with official rosters set to be released in February. Venezuela has never won the World Baseball Classic; its best finish came in 2009, when the team reached the semifinals and placed third overall.
Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic schedule
- Venezuela vs Netherlands | March 6
- Venezuela vs Israel | March 7
- Nicaragua vs Venezuela | March 9
- Venezuela vs Dominican Republic | March 11
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