Latin America Sports Daily For Tuesday, March 17, 2026

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Monday belonged to Venezuela. Four consecutive two-out hits in the seventh inning turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory over Cinderella story Italy, sending La Vinotinto to their first-ever World Baseball Classic final against the United States tonight in Miami. Off the field, Carlo Ancelotti's penultimate Brazil squad announcement before the World Cup sent shockwaves through South American football - Neymar was left out again, while eight newcomers including Endrick, Rayan, and three Flamengo defenders earned call-ups for friendlies against France and Croatia. In Argentina, Defensa y Justicia dismantled San Lorenzo 5-2 at the Nuevo Gasometro in a seven-goal thriller defined by ex-Ciclon players returning to haunt their former club, and the Brasileirao's sixth round closed with Chapecoense and Gremio drawing 1-1 in Chapeco. This is your Latin America sports news for Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - brought to you by The Rio Times, your source for comprehensive Latin America coverage.

Monday Scoreboard - 16 March 2026

Competition	Home	Score	Away
WBC Semifinal	Italy	2 – 4	Venezuela
Brasileirao R6	Chapecoense	1 – 1	Gremio
ARG Apertura F11	San Lorenzo	2 – 5	Def. y Justicia
ARG Apertura F11	Racing	2 – 0	Estudiantes RC
ARG Apertura F11	Barracas Central	2 – 1	Atl. Tucuman
ARG Apertura F11	Instituto	2 – 1	Independiente
ARG Apertura F11	Aldosivi	0 – 0	Huracan

01
Venezuela Storm Into First WBC Final With Seventh-Inning Rally
WBC




Venezuela will play for the World Baseball Classic title for the first time in the tournament's history after rallying to defeat Italy 4-2 in Monday's semifinal at loanDepot Park in Miami. The victory sets up an all-Americas final against the United States on Tuesday night.

Italy took a 2-0 lead through the first three innings against Venezuela starter Keider Montero, who was chased after loading the bases in the second. A bases-loaded walk to J.J. D'Orazio and a Dante Nori groundout gave the Italians their cushion. Eugenio Suarez pulled one back in the fourth with a solo home run off Aaron Nola, but Italy's lead held into the seventh.

Then Venezuela's lineup exploded. With two outs and runners on, Jackson Chourio singled on a first-pitch fastball. Ronald Acuna Jr. beat out an infield single to tie the score when shortstop Sam Antonacci's throw from deep in the hole bounced wide. Maikel Garcia lasered a single to left to score Chourio and give Venezuela the lead, and Luis Arraez added insurance with another RBI single to make it 4-2. Italy's decision to bring Michael Lorenzen in from the fifth inning - originally earmarked for a potential championship start - backfired catastrophically.

Venezuela's bullpen was magnificent, retiring Italy's batters over the final six innings while allowing just three hits and recording eight strikeouts. Daniel Palencia closed the door in the ninth, pumping 98-99 mph fastballs past Sam Antonacci for the final out.
KEY STAT
Venezuela's bullpen has been the tournament's best unit: six relievers combined for six shutout innings on Monday, extending the pen's scoreless streak to 14.2 innings across the knockout stage. Acuna, Chourio, Garcia, Arraez, and Gimenez - five MLB All-Stars - will face Team USA at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.






02
Ancelotti Drops Neymar Again as Brazil Names Pre-World Cup Squad
Brazil




Carlo Ancelotti announced his penultimate 26-man Brazil squad on Monday, and Neymar's name was absent for the fifth consecutive call-up under the Italian coach. The squad will face France in Boston on March 26 and Croatia in Orlando on March 31 - the final auditions before May's definitive World Cup selection.

Ancelotti called eight newcomers to the Selecao: defenders Bremer (Juventus), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), and Ibanez (Al-Ahli); midfielders Danilo (Botafogo) and Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray); and forwards Endrick (Lyon), Rayan (Bournemouth), and Igor Thiago (Brentford). Three Flamengo players - Alex Sandro, Danilo, and Leo Pereira - earned spots in a squad shaped by fitness over reputation.

The coach was direct about his methodology: he preferred players who are fully fit and competing regularly, noting significant absences due to injury including Rodrygo (torn ACL), Bruno Guimaraes, Militao, and Estevao. On Neymar specifically, Ancelotti acknowledged the forward remained on the preliminary list but was not selected. Neymar, who started for Santos in the 1-1 draw against Corinthians on Sunday, responded that his World Cup dream continues. His chances of making the final 26 appear increasingly slim - he has never been called up by Ancelotti since the Italian took charge in May 2025.
KEY STAT
Ancelotti has now called up 56 different players across five squads since taking over Brazil. The final World Cup list of 26 will be announced on May 18. Brazil's last friendly before the tournament is against Panama at the Maracana on May 31.












Defensa y Justicia Demolish San Lorenzo 5-2 in Buenos Aires Thriller
Defensa y Justicia Demolish San Lorenzo 5-2 in Buenos Aires Thriller
Argentina


Defensa y Justicia produced the most emphatic away performance of the Argentine Apertura season, dismantling San Lorenzo 5-2 at the Nuevo Gasometro in a match defined by former Ciclon players returning to punish their old club. The result leaves San Lorenzo ninth with 13 points and four matches without a win, while Defensa remain unbeaten and climb to third with 16 points.

The carnage began inside 60 seconds. Elias Pereyra - a product of San Lorenzo's youth academy who was sold amid the club's financial crisis - received a cutback from Ruben Botta and fired a left-footed strike across goal to make it 1-0 before the home fans had settled. Juan Gutierrez doubled the lead at 44 minutes after a slick combination freed Hector David Martinez down the right, whose cross found the Uruguayan at the near post.

Aaron Molinas converted a penalty in the 64th minute for 3-0, and debutant Rodrigo Auzmendi - on his very first touch in San Lorenzo colors - headed home to make it 3-1 just a minute later. But Agustin Ladstatter's red card for a reckless challenge in the 67th minute killed any hope of a comeback. Agustin Hausch made it 4-1, Alexis Cuello missed a penalty for the hosts when Christopher Fiermarin saved, Auzmendi scored again for 4-2, and David Barbona completed the rout in added time. The Nuevo Gasometro erupted with chants of "que se vayan todos" - "everyone out."
KEY STAT
Defensa y Justicia are the only unbeaten team in the Argentine Apertura (3W-7D-0L). Four of their five scorers on Monday - Pereyra, Hausch, Sosa, and Botta - are former San Lorenzo players who left amid the club's financial difficulties.





04
Chapecoense and Gremio Draw 1-1 to Close Brasileirao Round Six
Brasileirao




The final fixture of Brasileirao Round 6 ended in a 1-1 draw at the Arena Conda as Chapecoense and Gremio traded first-half goals in a match shaped by defensive errors. Walter Clar converted a penalty for the hosts in the 27th minute after Bolasie was brought down inside the box by Viery, but Gremio equalized in first-half stoppage time when goalkeeper Leo Vieira fumbled a corner and Nardoni pounced from close range.

Gremio dominated possession at 61% and created the better second-half chances - Tete struck the crossbar at 67 minutes - but could not find a winner. The result leaves Sao Paulo clear at the top of the Brasileirao with 16 points from six matches under new manager Roger Machado, followed by Palmeiras on 13 points and Flamengo and Bahia also in strong positions. Gremio sit seventh on eight points; Chapecoense are 12th with six, having played one match fewer.
KEY STAT
The Brasileirao has already seen six managerial changes in six rounds: Cruzeiro (Tite fired after the 3-3 draw with Vasco on Sunday), Vasco, Sao Paulo, Flamengo, Atletico-MG, and Remo have all changed coaches. Sao Paulo's appointment of Roger Machado has been the most transformative - five wins and a draw since he took charge.






05
Argentine Apertura Round 11 Wrap: Racing Cruise, Instituto Edge Independiente
Argentina




Beyond the San Lorenzo debacle, Monday's Argentine Apertura action saw Racing defeat Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto 2-0 at the Cilindro de Avellaneda, with Maravilla Martinez joining the club's top-30 all-time scorers in the process. Instituto edged Independiente 2-1 in Cordoba, Barracas Central continued their strong recent form with a 2-1 win over Atletico Tucuman, and Aldosivi and Huracan played out a goalless stalemate in Mar del Plata.

The results completed a busy Fecha 11 matchday that began over the weekend. Velez lead Zona A with 18 points after their win over Rosario Central, while Talleres top Zona B on 20 points following the scoreless Clasico Cordobes against Belgrano. River Plate are fourth overall on 17 points. Matches continue Tuesday with Lanus hosting Newell's, Central Cordoba facing Deportivo Riestra, and Gimnasia de Mendoza against Estudiantes de La Plata.
KEY STAT
Defensa y Justicia's unbeaten run (3W-7D) has them third on 16 points. Matias Zaracho left the Racing match in tears with another injury, adding to a frustrating campaign for the former Atletico Mineiro midfielder.






06
Liga MX Standings Check: Cruz Azul Hold Top Spot Ahead of Jornada 12
Liga MX




With Jornada 11 complete and Jornada 12 not starting until Friday, March 20, the Liga MX Clausura enters a brief pause with Cruz Azul atop the table on 26 points despite their 2-2 draw against Pumas at the Olimpico Universitario over the weekend. Toluca remain second on 25 and preserved their unbeaten record with a 1-1 draw against Atlas, while Chivas sit third on 24 points after a dominant 3-0 win over Santos.

Chivas still have a postponed match against Leon (scheduled for March 18) that could see them leapfrog Cruz Azul into first place. Pachuca and Pumas round out the top five on 19 and 18 points respectively. The Jornada 12 headline fixture will be Monterrey vs Chivas on Saturday, while Pumas host America in the weekend's Clasico Capitalino. Cruz Azul travel to Mazatlan on Friday night, where anything less than a win could see them displaced from the summit. For a full Liga MX preview, see our recent Liga MX analysis.
KEY STAT
Cruz Azul have led the Clausura since Jornada 4 but their advantage has shrunk from five points to just one. Chivas could take the lead outright by Wednesday if they beat Leon in the rescheduled match.







Venezuela WBC final World Baseball Classic 2026 Ronald Acuna Jr Jackson Chourio Maikel Garcia Luis Arraez Eugenio Suarez Andres Gimenez Daniel Palencia Team USA Italy semifinal loanDepot Park Miami Carlo Ancelotti Brazil squad Neymar Selecao Brasileira Endrick Lyon Rayan Bournemouth Igor Thiago Brentford Leo Pereira Flamengo Alex Sandro Danilo Botafogo Gabriel Sara Galatasaray France Croatia friendlies World Cup 2026 Defensa y Justicia San Lorenzo Argentine Apertura Elias Pereyra Aaron Molinas Juan Gutierrez Rodrigo Auzmendi Agustin Hausch David Barbona Nuevo Gasometro Racing Estudiantes Rio Cuarto Instituto Independiente Barracas Central Atletico Tucuman Aldosivi Huracan Brasileirao Serie A Chapecoense Gremio Walter Clar Nardoni Arena Conda Sao Paulo Palmeiras Flamengo Bahia Cruz Azul Toluca Chivas Liga MX Clausura Jornada 11 Tite Cruzeiro Roger Machado Latin America sports news Brazil sports news today LATAM sports coverage

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