The United States secured home-field advantage against Venezuela via a coin toss for the World Baseball Classic final at LoanDepot Park in Miami today. U.S. team seeks its second title, while Venezuela makes its first championship appearance.

The United States secured home-field advantage via a coin toss for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final against Venezuela, set for this Tuesday at LoanDepot Park in Miami, a stadium with a capacity of 36,700 people.

The U.S. team will seek to win back the title it won in 2017. Venezuela will play its first final of the WBC, in the city of Miami, starting at 8 P.M. local time.

RELATED: Venezuela Advances to 2026 World Baseball Classic Final, Faces U.S.

When Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented its current postseason format in 2022, it eliminated the traditional coin toss that determined home-field advantage in October, introducing a new mathematical tie-breaking system. However, for enthusiasts of the classic method, the World Baseball Classic still utilizes this time-honored practice. Indeed, a coin toss determined which team would bat last in Tuesday’s championship game at LoanDepot Park.

Home Field For U.S.

U.S. team won the coin toss on Monday against Venezuela, thereby securing the home-team advantage for the championship clash. This toss was necessary due to both the United States and Venezuela holding identical 5-1 records in the tournament.

According to this, the United States had the privilege of choosing “heads” or “tails” in the draw, a prerogative granted based on its ranking within the World Baseball Softball Confederation at the outset of the 2026 tournament.

Despite qualifying for U.S. third consecutive final in the World Baseball Classic, which they will contest Tuesday against Venezuela, the United States squad has not appeared entirely dominant in its last four games.

The U.S. team has outscored its opponents by a collective 42-21 margin throughout the tournament, but this significant run differential is largely attributable to resounding victories over Brazil and Great Britain during the group stage in Houston. In their four most recent outings, the U.S.. team has secured three wins, yet their advantage over opponents in those contests totals a mere three runs (18-15), a stretch that notably includes an 8-6 defeat to Italy on March 10.

The United States secured its spot by defeating the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a tense semifinal on Sunday.

The U.S. team for the final game:

1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
2. Bryce Harper, 1B
3. Aaron Judge, RF
4. Kyle Schwarber, BD
5. Alex Bregman, 3B
6. Roman Anthony, LF
7. Will Smith, C
8. Brice Turang, 2B
9. Byron Buxton, CF

The Mets’ right, Nolan McLean, will be the U.S. opening today.

Venezuela’s Dream

Venezuela, meanwhile, reached the final after a 4-2 victory over Italy in Monday’s semifinal. This win showcased Venezuela’s resilience, as they rallied with a three-run outburst in the seventh inning to take the lead and secure their second consecutive comeback win.

In their previous game, a quarterfinal against defending Classic champions Japan, Venezuela also has a comeback to advance, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.

Venezuela has already publicly confirmed the lineup for this historic match:

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Maikel García, 3B
3. Luis Arráez, 1B
4. Eugenio Suárez, BD
5. Gleyber Torres, 2B
6. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
7. Wilyer Abreu, LF
8. Salvador Pérez, C
9. Jackson Chourio, CF

The left-handed Eduardo Rodríguez was announced as an opener. In his only appearance at the 2026 tournament, against the Dominican Republic in the final game of the group stage, Rodríguez allowed three races in 2.2 innings, including two home runs for Juan Soto and Ketel Marte.

An Historical Final

The WBC final will crown the 2026 World Baseball Classic champion. For the United States, this marks their third consecutive final appearance, having previously secured their only title in 2017 with an 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico. For Venezuela, this will be their first appearance in a WBC championship game, representing a significant milestone for the nation’s rich baseball history.

Historically, these two teams have faced each other five times in the Classic, with the United States holding a slight 3-2 advantage.

Their first encounter was in the 2009 group stage, where the United States triumphed 15-6. The most recent clash occurred in the 2023 quarterfinals, a high-scoring affair that saw the United States win 9-7. These past matchups highlight the competitive nature between the two teams and suggest today’s final will be another memorable contest.

This championship game is poised to be an intense showdown, with Venezuela bringing strong comeback capabilities and a determined spirit, while the United States relies on its star-studded roster and home-field advantage to secure another WBC title.

The outcome will not only determine the 2026 champion but also add a significant chapter to the storied rivalry between these two proud baseball nations.

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