It must be admitted: from a European perspective, the World Baseball Classic 2026 remains a somewhat distant, almost exotic sporting object.
Except in Italy, where people are starting to take it seriously.
Because this 2026 edition has told an unexpected story: that of a conquering Venezuela, almost political in its scope.
By beating Japan, the defending champion, and then the United States in the final, the Venezuelans have signed much more than a sporting victory.
In a country in chronic crisis, the triumph acts as a national showcase, a demonstration of resilience.
Baseball becomes a tool for unity, even international projection, here.
On the field, this victory was built in the chaos: comeback against Japan, offensive power, heroic bullpen.
But beyond the game, it’s an identity affirmation that marked this competition.
Americans failed for the second time in the final, in 2023 against Japan and in 2026 against a small country they have taken for granted for a long time and that the political terrain has « infantilized » recently. Obviously, Venezuelan players are acculturated, playing for the vast majority in different MLB franchises, but patriotic fervor was felt in every « revengeful and vengeful » gesture of the « Vinotinto » players
And meanwhile, Europe discovered… Italy.
Fourth in the tournament, the Italian team embodied the major surprise.
Victory against the United States in the group stage, qualification for the semifinals, assumed « Cinderella » status: a pleasant anomaly.
In a continent little concerned with baseball, only the peninsula vibrated.
And even then: timidly, but with real pride.
Even more unexpected, the tournament offered a almost romantic scene: that of Czech players in Japan.
An amateur team in a world of MLB stars, the Czech Republic won over the Japanese public with its humility and panache.
Czech pitcher Ondřej Satoria, already known for having eliminated Ohtani in 2023, became a figure adopted by the Japanese stands. His last competitive outing before his retirement was noted with four admirably pitched innings. This amateur player, an electrical engineer, got an entire Japanese stadium on its feet.
In a country where baseball is a religion, this story touched something deeper than performance.
Because that’s where the uniqueness of this competition lies.
The Fervor.
For Derek Jeter, it has nothing to do with the World Series, considered the pinnacle of American baseball. But Aaron Judge disputes this hierarchy, praising the Classic as the most emblematic competition he has ever played in.
Here, anthems replace statistics, flags supplant franchises.
Each match resembles a miniature World Cup.
Each action triggers a collective emotion.
The Latin American public, in particular, transforms stadiums into cauldrons.
Japan imposes a precision and passion that is almost liturgical.
And even outsiders, like Italy or the Czech Republic, find their place in this globalized theater.
From a European perspective, it remains a peripheral spectacle.
Little broadcast, little baseball culture, little identification.
But perhaps that’s the paradox.
While Europe looks elsewhere, the rest of the world is reinventing this sport.
And in this global narrative, Italy – and timidly the rest of the continent – is finally starting to exist.
