Houston Astros bench coach Omar Lopez was named manager of the Venezuelan national team for the second consecutive World Baseball Classic, the team announced April 23.
Omar López es el seleccionado para dirigir a #Venezuela ???????? en el @WBCBaseball 2026 ????
Asume el reto y el compromiso de llevar al #TeamBeisbolVenezuela al objetivo.#laquenosvuelvelocos #laquenosuneatodos#abrazatubandera pic.twitter.com/CP3UZXvGCC
— Team Beisbol Venezuela (@TeamBeisbolVe) April 23, 2025
Venezuela will compete in Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6-11, alongside Nicaragua, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic.
Venezuela reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, falling 9-7 to the United States. Its best finish came in 2009, when the team advanced to the semifinals and lost 10-2 to South Korea at Dodger Stadium.
Lopez guided Venezuela to the Super Round of the 2024 Premier12 tournament at the Tokyo Dome, finishing 5-4 overall. Venezuela fell 6-1 to the United States in the bronze medal game on November 24. After the tournament, Lopez returned to the Cangrejeros de Santurce to complete the 2024-25 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente season in Puerto Rico.
He was promoted to Astros bench coach on December 1, 2023, after serving as the team’s first base coach since the 2020 season.
Lopez and Federación Venezolana de Béisbol president Aracelis Leon will evaluate a wide pool of players in the coming months, including stars such as Ronald Acuña Jr., José Altuve, Francisco Álvarez, and Jackson Chourio. Veterans like Salvador Perez, Eugenio Suárez, and Luis Arráez are also in consideration.
On the pitching side, Venezuela could bring back Pablo Lopez, Jesus Luzardo, Ranger Suárez, and Eduardo Rodriguez, while also considering newcomers such as Brusdar Graterol, Jose Alvarado, and Robert Suarez. Other options include German Marquez, Luis Garcia, and Jose Butto.
Scouting will extend beyond MLB, with players under observation in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, Korea’s KBO, Taiwan’s CPBL, the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol, and the 2025-26 Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. Winter league performances in the Caribbean and Australia will also factor into roster decisions.
Venezuela is currently ranked No. 3 in the World Baseball Rankings, published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
WBC Overview
Japan has won the most WBC championships with three in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The United States won in 2017 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013 and are the only other countries to win the WBC since the event started in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are available here with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! ???? pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
WBSC Rankings Outline
Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC.
The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC.
