Australia and Venezuela Clash in WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup Final

Australia meets Venezuela in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup final on Sunday at Soberania National Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua.

Australia seeks its first world title in the under-23 age bracket, while Venezuela chases its second championship in tournament history. The final pits the No. 10 team in the world against the No. 5 side in an international showdown presented by RAXUS.

Australia earned its spot in the title game for the first time since the inaugural 2016 tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, when the squad secured a silver medal behind Japan. Venezuela captured the 2021 crown and took home bronze in 2018.

Venezuela swept through the opening round and claimed victories in its first two Super Round games before dropping a Saturday contest to Chinese Taipei. Manager Nestor Corredor acknowledged that his roster must raise its level of play for the gold medal match.

“We put ourselves in a good position to go to the final,” Corredor told the World Baseball Softball Confederation after the loss to Chinese Taipei. “This is no excuse for the way we played today. We have to play better tomorrow in the final. But I have confidence in my team, they will come back tomorrow and play at their best level.”

Previous Tournament Meetings and Pitching Matchups

Venezuela defeated Australia 6-3 during the Super Round portion of the current tournament. The South American nation also holds a 4-2 win over Australia from the opening round of the 2018 event, while Australia secured a 14-1 victory against Venezuela at the 2014 U-21 World Cup before the age category shifted.

Corredor expects another demanding test against the Australian side. “We knew it was going to be Australia or Japan. They both have competitive teams and we knew we would have to play at our best level,” he said.

“What we have to do now is go back to the hotel and create a better game plan for tomorrow. We hope to come back and play the way we played at the beginning of the competition.”

On the mound, Venezuela will turn to Andry Lara. The 23-year-old right-hander made his Major League Baseball debut on July 2, 2025, for the Washington Nationals and started 20 games at the Triple-A level during the 2026 season.

Australia counters with right-hander William Page-Allen. The 22-year-old has made three relief appearances in the tournament and pitched in 23 games out of the bullpen for the Fresno State Bulldogs in the NCAA Mountain West Conference during the 2026 season.

Australia Reaches Title Game Under Pressure

Australia advanced to the final despite dropping its final Super Round fixture against Japan. Manager Shayne Watson praised his players for executing under pressure when tournament standings hung in the balance.

“It was a tight contest,” Watson told the World Baseball Softball Confederation. “You always go out there to win, but we knew what we had before we started. The guys played well. They knew what they needed to do and they got the job done.”

Watson pointed to a key tactical moment in the previous game that helped secure the qualification margin. “We knew run differential was going to come into play. The sacrifice fly was very big for us,” he said. “But that’s in the past. We’ve got to focus on tomorrow, knowing what’s ahead of us. We’re playing for a gold medal.”

The Australian offense delivered timely hits throughout the international campaign to reach the program’s second U-23 final. Watson credited the roster’s execution on both sides of the ball.

“Our guys have stepped up all through the competition. It’s been great to see,” Watson said. “They’ve kept the momentum going all competition, which has been fantastic, and got some big hits. Defensively, late in games, guys have stood up in critical moments.”

Sunday Schedule in Managua

The gold medal game between Venezuela and Australia takes place on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Soberania National Stadium in Managua.