Latin America Sports Daily for Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Italy delivered the biggest upset of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, stunning a star-studded Team USA 8-6 in Houston behind three home runs — including two from Jac Caglianone — to seize control of Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record. In South America, Barcelona SC pulled off a stunning continental upset of their own, eliminating defending Libertadores champions Botafogo 2-1 on aggregate with a 1-0 away win in Rio behind Milton Celiz’s eighth-minute strike and a heroic goalkeeping display from Jose David Contreras. Argentina’s Apertura Fecha 10 produced a wild 4-4 draw between Independiente and Union in Avellaneda — Juan Fedorco equalising in the 99th minute — while Velez remained top of Zona A despite being held at Tigre. At Indian Wells, Jannik Sinner ended Joao Fonseca’s dream run in a battle of tiebreaks.

03
Canada Edge Puerto Rico 3-2 to Keep Quarterfinal Hopes Alive

Canada Edge Puerto Rico 3-2 to Keep Quarterfinal Hopes Alive

Baseball

Canada kept their WBC quarterfinal dream alive with a gritty 3-2 win over Pool A hosts Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. Puerto Rico struck first through a Nolan Arenado RBI single in the opening frame, but Canada responded in the third without a single extra-base hit — drawing back-to-back RBI walks to Tyler O’Neill and Tyler Black.

The decisive run came in the fourth when Owen Caissie doubled and Abraham Toro singled to right to make it 3-1. Martin Maldonado’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth pulled Puerto Rico back within one, but the Canadian bullpen locked it down from there, holding the hosts scoreless across the final five innings.

Canada (2-1) now face Cuba (2-1) on Wednesday in a winner-take-all showdown. If Canada prevails, they would reach the WBC quarterfinals for the first time in their history and claim the top seed in Pool A via tiebreaker over Puerto Rico.

04

Independiente and Union Produce Eight-Goal Thriller in Avellaneda

Football

Independiente and Union de Santa Fe played out a breathtaking 4-4 draw at the Libertadores de America in a match that encapsulated everything chaotic and beautiful about Argentine football. Union took the early initiative through Cristian Tarragona’s penalty and then goals from Brahian Cuello and Mateo Del Blanco to build what looked like a commanding lead.

Independiente, under Gustavo Quinteros, clawed back before half-time through Ignacio Pussetto. In the second half, Gabriel Avalos converted a penalty to make it 2-3, but Union restored the two-goal cushion through Maizon Rodriguez. Avalos struck again with a header to cut it to 3-4, setting up a frantic finale.

In the ninth minute of stoppage time, substitute Juan Fedorco found the net to complete a remarkable comeback — sparking pandemonium in Avellaneda. Avalos’ brace takes him to six goals in the Apertura. Union sit second in Zona A on 15 points; Independiente are fourth on 14.

05

WBC Pool Play Finale: Who Needs What on Wednesday

Baseball

Wednesday’s final day of WBC pool play features three games that will determine the last three quarterfinal berths and knockout-round seedings. In Pool A, Canada face Cuba in San Juan at 3 p.m. ET in a straight elimination match — the winner advances, the loser goes home. Puerto Rico (3-1) have already clinched.

Pool B is the most dramatic. Italy (3-0) face Mexico (3-1) in Houston at 7 p.m. ET with the pool crown on the line. Team USA (3-1) need Italy to beat Mexico — or for Mexico to win by a narrow enough margin that the Americans’ run differential keeps them ahead. A lopsided Mexican victory could eliminate the US entirely.

In Pool D, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela meet at 8 p.m. ET in Miami for the pool’s top seed. Both teams are already through, alongside Japan and Korea from Pool C. The quarterfinals begin Friday in Miami and Houston.

06

Velez Hold Top Spot Despite Tigre Draw; Newell’s Agony Continues

Football

Velez Sarsfield maintained their lead atop Zona A of the Argentine Apertura despite being held 1-1 at Tigre. David Romero — the tournament’s joint-top scorer — opened with a spectacular backheel goal in the 27th minute but was forced off shortly after with a muscular injury. Braian Romero equalised from the penalty spot in the second half after Federico Alvarez was adjudged to have handled in the box. Velez now lead on 19 points, two clear of Union.

Newell’s Old Boys’ miserable season continued with a 1-1 draw against Platense at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa. Facundo Guch’s superb free kick put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute, but substitute Augusto Lotti equalised seven minutes from time. A late Mazzantti goal was disallowed by VAR for a prior foul. Newell’s remain bottom of the Apertura without a single victory in nine rounds — with just 3 points — and are last in the annual table, raising serious relegation fears.

Sarmiento and Racing drew a lifeless 0-0 in Junin, with Racing’s Marco Di Cesare seeing red in the 62nd minute.

07

Sinner Ends Fonseca’s Indian Wells Run in Tiebreak Battle

Tennis

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner survived a serious scare from Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, prevailing 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a gripping Round of 16 clash at the BNP Paribas Open. Fonseca, the 19-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, pushed Sinner to the limit in both sets before the Italian’s experience in tiebreaks proved decisive.

It was a creditable exit for Fonseca, who had been the tournament’s breakout story and continues to rise as the face of Brazilian tennis. His power game and composure against a top-two player suggest he is on the cusp of cracking the top 20. Sinner advances to a quarterfinal date with American Learner Tien, who upset Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets.

Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev dispatched Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, while Arthur Fils followed in Yannick Noah’s footsteps by becoming the first Frenchman since Noah himself to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas teamed up in doubles to upset defending champions Arevalo and Pavic 6-3, 6-2.

08

Team USA’s Fate Hangs in the Balance After Italian Stunner

Baseball

The Italy loss puts Team USA in an uncomfortable position. At 3-1, the Americans no longer control their own destiny in Pool B. They need Italy to beat Mexico on Wednesday night — or for Mexico to win by a narrow enough margin that the run-differential tiebreaker falls in the USA’s favour.

The drama stems from the pool’s tiebreaker rules: if Italy, USA, and Mexico all finish 3-1, it comes down to runs allowed per defensive out among the tied teams. A blowout Mexican win over Italy could flip that calculation against the Americans. Manager Mark DeRosa’s “Dream Team” roster — featuring Judge, Witt Jr., Henderson, Schwarber, and Skenes — could be headed home before the knockout round in what would be the most shocking early exit in WBC history.

Italy’s espresso-fuelled celebration — where home-run hitters receive a shot of espresso brewed on a Keurig in the dugout — has become the viral story of the tournament. Their roster features multiple MLB prospects under 25, suggesting this is no one-off fluke.

09

Brasileirao Round 5 Resumes Wednesday; Argentine Fecha 10 Rolls On

Football

The Brasileirao Serie A resumes Wednesday with a bumper Round 5 card headlined by Flamengo vs Cruzeiro, Corinthians vs Coritiba, and Bahia vs Vitoria in the Baiano derby. Palmeiras lead the table with 12 goals in four matches — the best attack in the league — while Bahia boast the tightest defence with just two conceded in three games.

In the Argentine Apertura, Fecha 10 continues across four more fixtures on Wednesday: Boca Juniors host San Lorenzo (19:45) in the Buenos Aires derby, Argentinos face Rosario Central (17:30), Banfield take on Gimnasia (17:30), and Independiente Rivadavia meet Barracas Central and Atletico Tucuman face Aldosivi at 22:00.

The Libertadores Phase 2 concludes this week as well: Botafogo vs Barcelona SC is done (BSC through), while Sporting Cristal host Carabobo on Wednesday and Tolima host O’Higgins on Thursday.

10

Looking Ahead: WBC Decision Day, Boca-San Lorenzo, Indian Wells QFs

Preview

Wednesday, March 11
WBC Pool A: Canada vs Cuba (3 p.m. ET, San Juan) — winner advances
WBC Pool B: Italy vs Mexico (7 p.m. ET, Houston) — pool crown + USA’s fate
WBC Pool D: Dominican Republic vs Venezuela (8 p.m. ET, Miami) — top seed
Argentine Apertura F10: Boca vs San Lorenzo (19:45), Argentinos vs Rosario Central (17:30)
Brasileirao R5: Flamengo vs Cruzeiro, Corinthians vs Coritiba, Bahia vs Vitoria