MIAMI, FL – The World Baseball Classic, an international showcase of the sport's global reach, has reportedly stumbled upon an unexpected truth: the world, outside of a few key regions, doesn't really play that much baseball. This revelation comes as Venezuela and Italy prepare to face off for a spot in the championship game, leaving traditional baseball powerhouses scratching their heads.

"We always assumed 'world' meant, you know, *everyone*," stated tournament director Brenda Fielder, adjusting her 'Global Game' branded cap. "Turns out, for a significant portion of the planet, 'baseball' is just a funny word for 'rounders with more rules.' We're thrilled for Venezuela and Italy, of course, but we did have a bracket slot reserved for, say, Japan or the Dominican Republic. Or even, dare I say, the United States."

Sources close to the tournament committee admitted that pre-tournament projections heavily favored countries where baseball is a national obsession, not merely a 'thing people do sometimes.' "We had a whole marketing campaign ready about the 'clash of titans,'" revealed one anonymous official. "Now we're just hoping the Italian team doesn't accidentally try to score a goal or something."

Fans worldwide are reportedly enjoying the unexpected matchups, though many are still trying to figure out which country's national anthem to stand for. The tournament's surprising trajectory has led some to question if future events might need to adjust their definition of 'global participation' to 'nations that own at least one professional baseball stadium.'

Meanwhile, economists are reportedly bracing for a surge in demand for pasta and arepas, regardless of the game's outcome.