Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic title game was the most-watched WBC telecast of all time, FOX Sports PR announced on Thursday.
An audience of 10.784 million viewers tuned in to watch Venezuela capture its first WBC title with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Team USA.
Viewership peaked from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET, as 12.148 million viewers watched FOX right after Bryce Harper brought the U.S. off the mat with a game-tying, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. They were likely still watching when Eugenio Suárez reclaimed the lead for Venezuela with the eventual game-winning hit, a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth.
Viewership for this year’s title game was up 128% from the 2023 championship tilt between the U.S. and Japan, which averaged 4.48 million viewers on FS1.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Final presented by Capital One
• Champs! Venezuela beats USA in final
• Box score: Venezuela 3, USA 2
• Maikel Garcia named Classic MVP
• '26 Classic All-Tournament Team
• Final bracket, full results
• Complete coverage
This year’s tournament also smashed viewership records throughout the event. Across FOX, FS1 and FS2, the games averaged 1.294 million viewers, a 156% increase from the 2023 tournament. This year’s Classic was the most-watched WBC ever across English language networks.
Previously, Team USA’s semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic set a new record with an average audience of 7.369 million viewers, temporarily making it the most-watched broadcast in tournament history.