Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport

An Alaska Airlines 737 and a FedEx 777 cargo plane nearly collided as they attempted to land on intersecting runways at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, according to radar data from FlightRadar24.

The incident happened around 8:17 p.m. Tuesday as the Alaska flight arrived from Portland, Oregon, and the FedEx plane arrived from Memphis, Tennessee, according to the data.

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Air traffic control told the Alaska plane to go around seconds before it touched down while the plane was just 150 feet in the air, according to air traffic control audio and FlightRadar24 data. Meanwhile, the FedEx plane continued its landing on the intersecting runway.

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Preliminary data from Flightradar24 shows the Alaska plane cleared the FedEx plane by just 300 to 325 feet.

The Federal Aviation Administration said, "An air traffic controller instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to perform a go-around at Newark International Airport because FedEx Flight 721 was cleared for the final approach to an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating."

FedEx released a statement, saying, "Following instructions from air traffic control, the flight crew of FedEx flight 721 landed safely without incident at Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday."

Alaska Airlines also said in a statement, "Air traffic control issued a go around to our aircraft, which our pilots are highly trained for."

The National Transportation Safety Board said it's investigating.

byAlpha World

in

March 19, 2026

Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport

An Alaska Airlines 737 and a FedEx 777 cargo plane nearly collided as they attempted to land on intersecting runways at N...

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'Super greens' sicken, hospitalize dozens more in salmonella outbreak

Asalmonella outbreaklinked to superfood supplements has been declared "over" after sending more people to the hospital, according to an update published by federal health authorities.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have completed an investigation into a multi-state salmonella outbreak traced toLive it Up-brand dietary supplements, which were sold nationwide on Amazon and the brand's website.

AMarch 17 FDA notice reportedthat 97 people from 32 states became sick with salmonella poisoning, resulting in 26 hospitalizations. This was up from the65 people in 28 states reported in the last notice on Jan. 29. No deaths have been reported.

Recalls began on Jan. 15, when Live it Upvoluntarily recalledits products "out of an abundance of caution." Why Not Natural, another supplement brand, later added one of its products to the list in aJan. 28 recall.

While the items have been pulled from shelves, the supplements have long shelf lives, so federal health authoritiesare still encouraging consumersto check their homes for any recalled items.

Exposure to salmonella can be especially dangerous for vulnerable groups, including children, older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Here's what to know about the outbreak.

Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, released its annual risky food report in April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAY broke it down further on a what-you-need-to-know basis.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Deli meat is somewhat of a "risky" food as it is often associated with the spread of listeria, such as in the 2024 case of the Boar's Head listeria outbreak that killed 10. Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy germ that can survive in very low temperatures but thrives in cool and damp places. It can, and will, happily live on foods in your or your grocery store's storage area, and the process for mass-producing the meat lends itself to plenty of opportunities for contamination.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Produce, like the cucumbers recalled due to a salmonella outbreak that infected 113 people across 23 states, can become adulterated with harmful bacteria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of the growing area to livestock.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Raw dairy, which is always unsafe to consume and illegal to sell in some states, poses a risk when it's not pasteurized. Dairy pasteurization, or heating milk products to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria, has been practiced since the 1920s and has resulted in illnesses commonly spread via milk, such as listeriosis, diphtheria and tuberculosis, becoming less prevalent.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cotija and queso fresco cheese are made from unpasteurized milk, meaning they carry an increased risk. One producer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, was shut down in October 2024 after its cheeses were linked to a years-long listeria outbreak that killed two people and made dozens of others sick.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eggs can become contaminated via the same means as cucumbers and other raw produce, especially if they have a cracked shell.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Like other raw produce, onions can become infected via fecal contamination. In 2024, E. coli-contaminated slivered onions on McDonald's Quarter Pounders triggered some locations to stop serving the burger temporarily.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Like cucumbers and onions, leafy greens are easily contaminated with bacteria like E. coli, as in the case of the Solata Foods spinach recall in 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Organic carrots were linked to a major E. coli outbreak in late 2024, leaving at least 39 ill and one dead.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ready-to-eat/cooked poultry and meat have been the source of multiple major recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. The same issue arises with RTE foods as with deli meat; the conditions they are made and stored under are often ideal for bacteria such as listeria to grow. In 2024, millions of pounds of RTE foods were recalled by BrucePac for listeria contamination.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the 'risky foods' linked to US recalls and illness outbreaks

Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, releasedits annual risky food reportin April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAYbroke it down furtheron a what-you-need-to-know basis.

What super greens supplement was recalled?

The recalled Live it Up products include certain Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder, including both original and wild berry flavors. All stick pack products, or Live it Up items packaged in tube-like containers, with expiration dates between August 2026 and January 2028, are also recalled.

The supplements were sold nationwide, primarily online, on Live it Up's website and Amazon. They may also have been sold by unauthorized third-party sellers, such as Walmart, according to the FDA notice.

According to the FDA, consumers should check for the following:

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• Live it Up Super Greens, NET WT 8.5 oz (240g) with UPC 860013190804.

• Live it Up Super Greens, 30 – 0.28oz (8g) sticks, NET WT. 8.47 oz (240g) with UPC 850077468063

• Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, NET WT 8.5OZ (240g), with UPC 860013190811

• Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, 30 – 0.32oz (9g) Sticks, NET WT. 9.52oz (270g), with UPC 850077468070

The recalled products are packaged in green pouches. The lot code is printed on the bottom back of the packaging in black and begins with the letter "A" or the number "3" for a stick pack product, the FDA said.

Why Not Natural recalled its Why Not Natural Organic Moringa - Green Superfood supplements as part of the outbreak. These capsules were also sold nationwide on Why Not's website and third-party sellers, including Amazon, between July 2025 and January 2026.

• Why Not Natural Organic Moringa - Green Superfood, 120 capsule bottles with lot # A25G051 and expiration date 07/2028.

Where did people get sick?

Sixty-five people have been sickened across 32 states as of March 17, including: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

What to do if you purchased the recalled Live it Up products

If you have a recalled Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder in your home, you should discard it or return it to the place of purchase, the FDA said. Clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come in contact with the product and contact your healthcare provider if you believe you have symptoms of salmonella poisoning, the agency advised. Those seeking a refund can fill out Live it Up'sonline formto request one.

Consumers who have purchased Why Not Natural Moringa Capsules should also stop consuming them and return the products to the company for a refund. Consumers may contact Why Not Natural for a full refund atcare@whynotnatural.com.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to theCDC.

While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

If you display any of these more serious symptoms, the CDC advises contacting your health care professional:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit

• Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving

• Bloody diarrhea

• Vomiting to the point that you cannot keep liquids down

• Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Salmonella outbreak linked to 'super greens' grows to 32 states

byAlpha World

in

March 19, 2026

'Super greens' sicken, hospitalize dozens more in salmonella outbreak

Asalmonella outbreaklinked to superfood supplements has been declared "over" after sending more people to the h...

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Netanyahu says Iran can no longer enrich uranium, as conflict continues through Gulf

Iran intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, raising the stakes in a war that is sending shock waves through the global economy.

The strikes, in retaliation for an Israeli attack on a key Iranian gas field, sent fuel prices soaring and risked drawing Iran's Arab neighbors directly into the conflict. Iran's targeting of energy production further stressed global supplies already under pressure because of its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, Iran's top leaders have been killed in airstrikes and the country's military capabilities have been severely degraded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Thursday that Iran no longer has the ability to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles.

Still, Iran — now led by the son of the supreme leader killed in the war's opening salvo — remains capable of missile and drone attacks rattling its Gulf Arab neighbors and a global economy dependent on the energy they produce.

Underscoring the danger to ships in the region, a vessel was set ablaze off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and another damaged off Qatar. Efforts to bypass the Strait of Hormuz were also under pressure: An Iranian drone hit a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea, which the country had been hoping to use as an alternative exit route.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, briefly surged above $119 a barrel, up more than 60% since Israel and the United States started the war. The European benchmark for natural gas prices also rose sharply and has roughly doubled in the past month.

RELATED STORY |US F-35 lands safely after Iran mission; report says it may have been hit

Energy infrastructure is targeted around the Gulf

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE denounced the Iranian attacks. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called them a "dangerous escalation."

But Iran showed no signs of backing down. Saudi Arabia said its SAMREF refinery in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu was hit. Saudi Arabia had begun pumping large volumes of oil west toward the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar, a key source of natural gas for world markets, said extensive damage was caused by Iranian missiles hitting the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, where production had already been halted after earlier attacks. Damage to the facility could delay Qatar's ability to get supplies to the market even after the war ends.

Two oil refineries in Kuwait and gas operations in Abu Dhabi also were targeted by Iran, local authorities said.

In Israel, more than a half-dozen waves of Iranian attacks targeting large parts of the country sent millions of people to shelters. The strikes caused damage to buildings but no significant casualties were reported.

After the latest Iranian barrage, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said the electricity grid in northern Israel sustained some damage. He said crews had restored electricity to some areas and were working to restore it in others. Israeli media showed images of black smoke rising from an oil refinery in the northern city of Haifa; Cohen said the refinery damage was minor.

RELATED NEWS |Pentagon asks for $200 billion to continue to fund Iran war

Hegseth says more Iranian leaders could be targeted

The Trump administration has cited various war objectives, including degrading Iran's missile capabilities and its nuclear program. Killing senior leaders has also been a priority for the U.S. and Israel.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday implied that more leaders could be targeted, referring specifically to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij force, a powerful internal security unit whose leader was killed by Israel earlier this week.

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"The last job anyone in the world wants right now, senior leader for the IRGC or Basij, temp jobs, all of them," Hegseth said.

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that U.S. forces continue to attack deeper into Iranian territory, with warplanes hunting Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz and helicopters striking Iranian drones. Caine said the U.S. military has also dropped 5,000-pound bombs on underground weapon-storage facilities.

Iran's state TV, quoting a Revolutionary Guard statement, said the country's air defense system hit an F-35 fighter jet. U.S. Central Command said an F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing after flying a combat mission over Iran. A spokesman for the command, Capt. Tim Hawkins, said the aircraft landed safely, the pilot was in "stable" condition and the incident was under investigation.

In a sign of the Iran war's rising price tag, the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds, a senior administration official said. The department sent the request to the White House, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private information.

Among the Iranian energy facilities hit in recent days was the Bushehr nuclear power plant complex. There were no injuries and the plant suffered no damage, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

Israel said Thursday it struck Iranian targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time. Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said the strikes hit dozens of targets, including ships, a shipyard and a command center.

Iran's strikes were retaliation for Israeli attack on a critical gas field

Iran stepped up its attacks on Gulf energy facilities after Israel hit South Pars, the Iranian part of the world's largest gas field, which is located offshore in the Persian Gulf and owned jointly with Qatar.

With some 80% of all power generated in Iran coming from natural gas, according to the International Energy Agency, the attack directly threatens the country's electricity supplies. Natural gas is also used to supply household heating and cooking across the Islamic Republic.

"Israel's target selection in this war has heavily focused on the institutions, leaders and infrastructure," the New York-based Soufan Center said in a research note. "It now seeks to inflict additional pressure on the regime by making the living conditions for civilians intolerable."

Iran condemned the strike on South Pars, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of "uncontrollable consequences" that "could engulf the entire world."

In Washington, President Donald Trump said that Israel would not attack South Pars again. But he warned on social media that if Iran continued striking Qatar's energy infrastructure, the U.S. would retaliate and "massively blow up the entirety" of the field.

Asked later about the possibility of U.S. ground troops being deployed to Iran, Trump responded, "No. I'm not putting troops anywhere."

Death toll climbs in third week of war

More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed during the war. Israeli strikes against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon have displaced more than 1 million people — roughly 20% of the population — according to the Lebanese government, which says more than 1,000 people have been killed. Israel says it has killed more than 500 Hezbollah militants.

In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. Four people were also killed in the occupied West Bank overnight by an Iranian missile strike, according to officials.

At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed.

Iran announced the execution of three men detained in January's nationwide protests, the first such sentences known to have been carried out, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported.

byAlpha World

in

March 19, 2026

Netanyahu says Iran can no longer enrich uranium, as conflict continues through Gulf

Iran intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, raising the stakes in a war t...

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Why No. 1 seed Arizona built with freshmen, not 'overpriced' transfers

SAN DIEGO – No other freshman class in America has scored more points this season than the five active freshmen onthe Arizona men's basketball team. They have combined for 1,461 points, which leads the nation heading into theNCAA Tournamentthis week, according to data provided by USA TODAY Sports by Stats Perform.

Which is pretty darn remarkable for two big reasons:

1. This team is on fire. The Wildcats (32-2) have won nine consecutive games and will start the tournament here as a No. 1 seed againstLong Island Universityon Friday, March 20.

2. This kind of youth movement goes against conventional wisdom these days. Isn't older supposed to be better in the era of wide-open player transfers?

More:John Calipari unleashed Darius Acuff by taking page out of NBA book

More:High Point upset was going to take everything — including a first layup of the season

Wildcats coachTommy Lloydinstead took a different approach than many others last year, veering away from the transfer portal, where more experienced players typically seek to earn more money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL).

"We were able to get involved with some freshmen that we felt could be just big-time impact players in college basketball, no matter what year or what class they were," Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

He had a strategy for it, as he explained Thursday.

WhyArizonabuilt its roster this way

One reason Lloyd built his roster this way was because didn't think there were going to be many "quality" transfers available in the portal.

Money was a factor, too.

"I thought it was going to be overpriced," Lloyd said.

Then there was the Duke factor. Duke beat Arizona twice last yearwith several freshman players, including future No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg. Duke even started three freshmen in the Final Four last year while other Final Four teams started mostly seniors. Lloyd noticed.

By the end of the season, Lloyd said the Blue Devils didn't seem young.

"I just thought they were really good."

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's2026 NCAATournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

The risks of a freshman-heavy roster at Arizona

Arizona lists seven total freshman players on its roster of 16, includingBryce James, son of LeBron, who is redshirting this year but still drums up interest in his team by having thefourth-biggest social-media followingin Division I basketball as of this month, according to Opendorse.

It's the kind of roster construction that is reminiscent of a bygone era in college sports — recruiting big freshman classes, developing those players and sometimes even redshirting some of them. The problem for Lloyd is that it comes with risk.

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The good ones will leave for the NBA after a year. Others might even transfer away in pursuit of more money.

Such freshman-heavy teams also often don't work out this well, unless they include superstar NBA prospects like Duke freshman forwardCameron Boozeror Arkansas freshman guardDarius Acuff.

Consider the 13 teams that invested eight roster spots or more in freshman players this season, all more than Arizona, according to Stats Perform. Only two of those 13 earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament — SMU and Queens University. New Haven listed the most freshmen on its roster this season with 11 but finished with a 14-17 record.

But there are outliers.

"Age don't matter," 19-year-old Arizona freshman guard Dwayne Aristode told USA TODAY Sports. "If you're good, you're good."

How Tommy Lloyd built this roster

Lloyd searches for top players overseas and has eight players from other countries, including freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov from Germany, Aristode from The Netherlands and 6-11 freshman forward Sidi Gueye from Senegal.

Lloyd also has five transfer players, including senior guard Jaden Bradley, who came to Arizona from Alabama in 2023.

But 49.9% of the team's scoring has come from five freshmen, who were part of a recruiting class that ranked No. 2 nationally behind fellow No. 1-seed Duke. These Arizona freshmen have scored even more than the four freshman contributors at Duke, which ranked second nationally in freshman scoring before the tournament with 1,417 points, more than half of whichcomes from Boozer.

The difference is Arizona's freshmen aren't projected to be high-lottery NBA draft prospects like Boozer. The Wildcats instead spread it around more between freshman guard Brayden Burries (15.9 points per game), freshman forward Koa Peat (13.6) and Kharchenkov (10.1).

Now comes the NCAA Tournament.

University of Akron:
Yvette Nicole Brown, Alexa Bliss, Dominique Moceanu, The Black Keys and George Wallace

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> California Baptist University: Brent Kutzle, Dustin-Leigh Konzelman, Kay Warren, Rick Warren and Marissa Figueroa (not pictured)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> University of Hawaii: Bette Midler, Larry Beil, Jason Elam, Ken Niumatalolo and Barack Obama, Sr.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> High Point University: Austin Dillon, Tubby Smith, Donna Fargo, Cody Allen and Charles F. Price (not pictured)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Howard University:
Chadwick Boseman, Thurgood Marshall, Anthony Anderson, Taraji P. Henson and Gus Johnson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kennesaw State University: Bron Breakker, Jasmine Burke, ReesaTeesa, Larry Nelson and theRadBrad (not pictured)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Kathleen Turner, Duff Goldman, Stavros Halkias, Young Mazino and Scott Seiss

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> University of Pennsylvania: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Banks, John Legend and Maury Povich

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Prairie View A&M University: Megan Thee Stallion, Mr. T., Loni Love, Terry Ellis and Cecil Cooper

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men's tournament team

University of Akron:Yvette Nicole Brown, Alexa Bliss, Dominique Moceanu, The Black Keys and George Wallace

How will freshmen handle this environment?

Arizona senior forward Tobe Awaka had simple answer for this.

"Don't try and reinvent the wheel," he said Thursday at Viejas Arena in San Diego.

Lloyd doesn't see a problem.

"I haven't sensed that our freshmen don't know what this is about," Lloyd said. "And I told our freshmen, 'Hey, you guys won a state championship?' Yeah. Then let's go win another state championship. And the way you win a state championship, you win a state championship game by game.  This just happens to have the word 'national' in front of it.  But it's no different approach.

Ranking college basketball teams with most points by freshmen in 2025-26

As of March 17 in Division I, according to Stats Perform:

1. Arizona 1461

2. Duke  1417

3. Arkansas 1334

4. Central Arkansas 1326

5. New Mexico  1275

6. Fairfield 1270

7. North Carolina-Greensboro 1149

8. Colorado 1138

9. Air Force 1123

10. Houston 1119

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Arizona basketball enters March Madness with roster led by freshmen

byAlpha World

in

March 19, 2026

Why No. 1 seed Arizona built with freshmen, not 'overpriced' transfers

SAN DIEGO – No other freshman class in America has scored more points this season than the five active freshmen onthe Ari...

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Venezuela's WBC title win over U.S. draws record ratings

Venezuela's win over the United States didn't just deliver the World Baseball Classic's first new champion in a decade, it also delivered the biggest audience the tournament has ever seen.

Tuesday's title game from Miami averaged 10.78 million viewers across FOX, Fox Deportes, and streaming, setting a new event record, and peaked at 12.15 million as it tightened late.

The final number was a fitting cap to a tournament that kept raising its own bar. The championship broadcast finished 46% higher than the previous WBC record set just two days earlier, when the U.S. semifinal win over the Dominican Republic drew 7.37 million.

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It wasn't just American games driving the surge, as Venezuela's semifinal win over Italy averaged 3.76 million viewers, the most-watched WBC telecast ever that didn't feature Team USA.

FOX's overall tournament audience also increased, averaging 1.29 million viewers across FOX, FS1 and FS2. This marked a 156% rise from the 2023 WBC, helped by a record 78 MLB All-Stars participating and a noticeably higher level of intensity from players who treated the tournament more like a serious championship than an exhibition.

--Field Level Media

byAlpha World

in

March 19, 2026

Venezuela's WBC title win over U.S. draws record ratings

Venezuela's win over the United States didn't just deliver the World Baseball Classic's first new champion...

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