World Baseball Classic 2026 Semifinals Bracket Qualified Teams, Schedule After Quarterfinals Results

Italy and Venezuela advanced to the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals on Saturday.

The Italians benefited from a pair of four-run rallies to book a spot in the final four via a victory over Puerto Rico.

Venezuela took down Japan behind an incredible comeback that was supercharged by Wilyer Abreu's three-run home run.

Venezuela and Italy will meet on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET with a spot in the WBC championship game on the line.

The United States and Dominican Republic face off in the tournament's first semifinal on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6

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Italy did all of its damage in the first and fourth innings.

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone each contributed RBI singles in the first of the two four-run rallies.

The next four Italy runs were delivered on doubles by J.J. D'Orazio and Andrew Fischer in the fourth.

Italy's 8-2 advantage stayed in tact until the eighth inning, when Puerto Rico pushed four runs across the plate.

Christian Vazquez's two-run single, the highlight of the rally, brought Puerto Rico within two runs of Italy.

Italy closed the door on the rally and then finished off the win in the ninth to secure a surprise semifinal berth against the winner of Japan-Venezuela.

Venezuela 8, Japan 5

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Venezuela used the long ball to surge past Japan in the scoring column.

Wilyer Abreu put Venezuela ahead for good in the sixth inning with a three-run home run.

One inning prior, Maikel Garcia brought the South American side within one run of Japan on a two-run home run.

Japan was in control early after it plated four runs in the third inning, but those would be the last runs it scored in Miami.

Venezuela's bullpen shut down Shohei Ohtani and Co. over the final six innings.

Daniel Palencia finished off the victory by forcing Ohtani into a pop up in the short outfield.

Venezuela's win not only put it into the WBC semifinals, but it qualified the country for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles as well.