Venezuela beats USA in explosive duel

The triumph, Venezuela's first in the World Classic, also triggered special emotions at the highest level of government. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez immediately declared Wednesday a national holiday. "Long live Venezuela," she said after the game. "This victory is proof of the passion, talent and unity that characterize us Venezuelans. An achievement that will live on forever in the heart of our nation."

US President Donald Trump had added political fuel to the fire in the run-up to the match. Following Venezuela's entry into the final, he wrote on his Truth Social platform that many good things had happened in Venezuela recently and implied that the country could become the 51st state of the USA.

The duel between Venezuela and the USA was charged against the backdrop of the political situation. At the beginning of this year, the US military captured the authoritarian Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro and his wife during an attack on the South American country and took them out of the country. Both are now in New York, where they are to be tried for alleged involvement in the international drug trade.

Venezuela has been in a phase of political upheaval since Maduro's overthrow. Rodríguez, who was previously Maduro's deputy, took over as acting president.

The best national teams in the world meet every three years in the World Baseball Classic. Venezuela reached the final for the first time ever. "My country needed this title," said Ronald Acuña, Venezuelan outfielder for the MLB team Atlanta Braves, with tears in his eyes. "I just wanted to make our people proud. We did that today." In the capital Caracas, thousands of people celebrated in the streets and sang the national anthem.