2026 World Baseball Classic

Venezuelan fans emphatically screaming, “Ponche. Ponche, Ponche,” as their country delivered it’s first championship at the World Baseball Classic still echoes in my memory. The whole tournament was a rousing success and has become a crown jewel for MLB along with the long standing pillar of the World Series, While I had the opportunity to cover some of the game action, my primary focus was the fans, the concerts and showing why the World Baseball Classic is beloved by so many fans. Yes, the baseball at the World Baseball Classic was on another level but what truly made the tournament what it was were the fans who passionately and emphatically made their presence known in every game.

While this isn’t technically my first World Baseball Classic, this is my first time covering it the way I was asked to. Back in 2023, I had the opportunity to photograph a game between Israel and the Marlins as well as all the concerts and I got to hang out with Daddy Yankee for a bit. Working for the Miami Marlins this go around, my main task was to show the atmosphere of loanDepot Park during the games at the World Baseball Classic.

You might be asking yourself what does atmosphere look like at a World Baseball Classic game? Best way to describe it would be organized chaos. People walking up and down aisles and through concourses with drums, horns and lord knows what else acting as a pied piper drawing large fans into their mayhem. People dancing throughout the stadium, fans on chairs hanging onto the final pitch as if it’s outcome would dictate a new path in their life. Fans chanting and cheering for 9 innings only to pause when they hold their collective breath during an at-bat.

Pre and post game concerts with DJs sprinkled in between out on the main plaza drawing big crowds of fans dancing and singing along. Flags and signs held up high for all to see; pride just overflowing for their favorite players and countries. That was the atmosphere at loanDepot Park during the World Baseball Classic.

And how could I forget the deafening and almost primal chants during the biggest games. There were times I couldn’t even hear myself think let alone speak to a person 6 inches away from me.

It was truly an amazing experience at the WBC. Days after the finals, people online were talking about the environment at loanDepot Park and how memorable it was. I’m not sure how I could even describe what a game was like let alone the finals. Loud, jubilant, exhilarating; just some words that come to mind.

ESPN talking head, Pat McAfee, said it was the greatest sports environment he’s even been apart of. That’s how great the WBC was. There wasn’t heated rivalries like Yankees and Red-Sox. It was just fans who love baseball who happen to love their countries that much more getting together and enjoying the experience. It was just pure love for the game each and every game.

And that love for the game was what each fan base so special. They would come in costumes, carrying their country’s flags, chanting and singing each and every game. Fans of each country would take photos together and had a great time together.

The Japanese fans were my favorite. Some bought tickets for the quarter, semi and the finals and when Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinals they came to the remaining game dressed as fans as other countries, but mostly as Venezuela fans. They had such a great time partying with the Venezuela fans and all the videos online will show them having so much fun.

While I wish the World Baseball Classic was every year, having it every 3-4 makes more sense. It makes it special and memorable. I know the fans will always show up and I can’t wait to cover it again.

For more videos and photos from the WBC, check out my Instagram page!