The 2026 WBC has been some of the best World Baseball Classic action we have witnessed since the tournament’s inception. Now that the semifinals are over, we can examine this round before the championship tonight between Team USA and. But first, we must look back at the semifinals and see what we can take away from these two games.

TAKEAWAY #1: TEAM USA VS TEAM DR WAS EVERYTHING YOU WANTED IT TO BE

Watching the highly anticipated matchup between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic was everything you wanted to witness as a baseball fan. The contest was a low-scoring, tight matchup throughout, ending in a 2-1 win for Team USA. There was incredible defense on both sides, awesome pitching, and game-altering hitting. Each run scored by both teams was a result of home runs. BaseballBanterBroadcast.com writer Nicoletta Alcamo penned a beautiful piece breaking down the full extent of the matchup. (Here’s the article, USA Defeats Dominican Republic in Thrilling World Baseball Classic Showdown.)

TAKEAWAY #2: ABS WILL BE A POSITIVE ADDITION TO MLB & THE WBC

If you watched the conclusion of Team USA vs. Team DR, you probably saw the botched call by home plate umpire Cory Blaser. A clear-cut ball around the shins of Geraldo Perdomo was the closing factor in the defeat of the Dominican Republic. And while Team DR manager Albert Pujols handled the questions about the obvious missed call in the most professional manner, there’s no doubt that, had the ABS (Automated Ball Strike) system been implemented throughout the tournament, the game could still be going on. Putting the call aside, we have seen the ABS system included and used in Spring Training, and it will be added to the 2026 Major League Baseball season and beyond. The next WBC tournament, in a few years, will likely also feature the ABS system.

TAKEAWAY #3: TEAM VENEZUELA VS TEAM ITALY BRINGS THE EXHILARATION

For as entertaining and intense as the matchup between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic was, the matchup of Team Italy and Team Venezuela matched and possibly even surpassed the exhilaration of the US versus DR. Venezuela and Italy felt like an evenly matched pairing, and the contest was close, with Italy leading throughout much of the game. However, Venezuela’s offensive firepower ultimately began to show late in the game. After a 2-1 lead by Italy through six innings, Venezuela scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning. And Venezuela would hold onto the 4-2 lead the rest of the way, knocking off the last undefeated team in Team Italy.

TAKEAWAY #4: THE 2026 WBC CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP IS SET: TEAM VENEZUELA VS TEAM USA

The 2026 World Baseball Classic Finals are set with Team USA taking on Team Venezuela from Loan Depot Park in Miami, Florida (the home of the Miami Marlins). This will be the first time in the tournament’s history that Venezuela has reached the finals. And for Team USA, their third trip to the finals stage of the World Baseball Classic. Team USA will try to win its first WBC title since 2017. What makes this matchup so intriguing is the way the teams will approach it: a winner-take-all, game-seven-type feel. Obviously, there is no tomorrow following the game, as far as the WBC goes. However, certain pitching restrictions in place will give the slight advantage to Team USA because of having had this Monday night off, unlike Team Venezuela. Nevertheless, the 2026 World Baseball Classic finale looks to be the “favorite vs the dark horse”, David vs Goliath, the underdog vs the big dog, and whatever other metaphor you’d like to include. But no matter what happens, the 2026 World Baseball Classic has been the best tournament to date.