MLB cancels plans for Toronto Blue Jays to play in London
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com
The Toronto Blue Jays were scheduled to play the New York Yankees in the 2026 London Series.
Due to a scheduling conflict that series will no longer go ahead and the London Summer Series has been cancelled entirely.
Like many things going on in Britain, football is to blame.
West Ham United is scheduled to play its Premier League finale at home against Leeds United on May 24th. With the London Series scheduled for June 13 & 14th, that left too little time for the football pitch to be converted into a baseball diamond.
While games for later in the season were also considered, National broadcaster FOX lacked broadcast availability due to its World Cup commitments.
Major League Baseball has been hosting games in London and-and-off since 2019, when the New York Yankees played the Boston Red Sox. After the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled plans in 2020, baseball returned to the British Isles in 2023 and 2024. No match was played there in 2025.
MLB actively pursuing India, Mexico City.
Under commissioner Rob Manfred, MLB has increased its effort to grow the game globally. While a potential match in Paris ultimately fell through, the league is actively working on playing a game in India. Mexico City is also being heavily courted as a site for a future matchup.
While baseball has always been popular in Asia, Shohei Ohtani has made MLB even more popular. The league has opened seasons in Tokyo in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2019, and played in South Korea in 2024.
No word yet on if there will be a London Series in 2026 and whether or not the Blue Jays will be involved.
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