The World Baseball Classic is underway in Miami, where Venezuela’s team draws large crowds as politics and sports intersect on U.S. soil.

Manager Omar López stresses consistency and says he will not discuss politics, keeping the focus on winning games.

Players express a desire to celebrate national pride through baseball and seek unity and joy rather than political controversy.

Star catcher Salvador Perez is highlighted as a key player and captain of the Venezuelan squad.

Venezuela fell 3-1 to the Astros, with Carlos Perez delivering a two-run homer for Houston in the eighth inning.

Perez reiterates focusing on winning and controlling what can be controlled, while acknowledging broader uncertainties surrounding the event.

WBC pool play in Miami runs March 10-15, 2026, at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

Attendees share personal stories about baseball strengthening cultural ties and offering a respite amid home-country turmoil.

The scene is set against geopolitical tensions, including a January 2026 U.S. operation related to Nicolás Maduro.

Local sentiment in Miami is mixed but hopeful for a unifying, celebratory baseball experience among players and fans.

The atmosphere is festive, with fans singing national anthems, wearing gear, dancing, and building community—baseball as a unifying experience.

Overall, the event is framed as both a sporting competition and a symbol of Venezuelan identity and resilience in diaspora communities.