A Fox News Digital article by sports reporter Jackson Thompson claimed that Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, securing Venezuela's first title in the tournament.[1] The piece stated that President Donald J. Trump responded on Truth Social with a one-word post: "STATEHOOD!!!" followed by his initials.
The same report alleged a prior post by Trump after Venezuela's claimed 4-2 semifinal win over Italy on March 16, 2026, in Miami, where he wrote: "Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?"[1]
These results and posts could not be independently verified. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5-17, 2026, with semifinals on March 16 and the final on March 17 at loanDepot park in Miami.[2][3] No official match reports or outcomes exist as of October 2024, as the tournament has not commenced.
No matching post appears on President Trump's Truth Social account (@realDonaldTrump).[4] Trump, inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025, frequently uses the platform for commentary.
The Fox News article also referenced unverified political developments, including a U.S. military operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and the U.S. flag raised over the embassy in Caracas. Maduro remains Venezuela's president,[5] and the U.S. embassy has been closed since March 2019, with interests handled through a Swiss-protected section.[2][5]
Venezuela's potential roster includes MLB stars of Venezuelan nationality or affiliation such as outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves), catcher Salvador Pérez (Kansas City Royals, team captain), outfielder Wilyer Abreu (Boston Red Sox), infielder Eugenio Suárez (Detroit Tigers), and brothers Willson Contreras (St. Louis Cardinals) and William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers).[3][6] Venezuela exited in the quarterfinals of the 2023 WBC, losing 2-0 to the Dominican Republic.[3]
Pool matchups position Venezuela in Pool B (San Juan, Puerto Rico) alongside the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama and Israel, while the U.S. is in Pool A (Houston) with Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Cuba. Semifinal opponents depend on quarterfinal results.[2]
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | March 13-14 | Various |
| Semifinals | March 16 | loanDepot park, Miami |
| Final | March 17 | loanDepot park, Miami |
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Fox News Digital sports coverage (draft article referenced)
Undated (provided input)
No direct URL (internal draft) - MLB.com
"World Baseball Classic 2026 dates, venues and pools announced"
August 27, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-world-baseball-classic-2026-dates-venues-and-pools-announced - World Baseball Classic official website
"2026 Schedule"
Accessed October 2024
https://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/schedule/2026 - Truth Social
President Donald J. Trump profile (@realDonaldTrump)
Accessed October 2024
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump - U.S. Department of State
"Venezuela Travel Advisory"
Updated July 31, 2024
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/venezuela-travel-advisory.html - Wikipedia
"2023 World Baseball Classic rosters – Venezuela" (confirms player affiliations)
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_World_Baseball_Classic_rosters#Venezuela
