MLB Cancels 2026 London Series, Focuses on Global Expansion and Media Deals
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced the cancellation of its planned 2026 series in London between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays due to stadium scheduling conflicts and broadcast availability issues. Simultaneously, Commissioner Rob Manfred has revealed progress on new media rights agreements and ongoing international expansion efforts.
London Series Cancelled: Scheduling Conflicts Derail 2026 Plans
MLB intended to stage two games at London Stadium, home of West Ham United, on June 13 and 14, 2026. However, West Ham's Premier League finale against Leeds on May 24 left insufficient time to convert the stadium for baseball. Furthermore, a lack of available broadcast slots with Fox, due to World Cup commitments, prevented rescheduling the games for later in June.
This marks the second scrapped European initiative for MLB, following the cancellation of proposed 2025 games in Paris after failing to secure a promoter. Previous London series included the Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox in 2019, and series featuring the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs in 2023, and the New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies in 2024.
"We remain interested in Europe. We think London is an important jumping off point for us," Manfred said. "We have a facility that has come a long way since the first Yankee-Red Sox game. It's a much better ballpark now than it was due to their willingness to make investments in that."
MLB Expands Global Footprint: India and Mexico Prioritized
Despite the setback in London, MLB remains committed to international growth. Manfred emphasized ongoing grassroots initiatives in India, leveraging the nation's enthusiasm for cricket. Mexico also remains a priority, with regular-season games played in Monterrey (1996, 1999, 2018, 2019) and Mexico City (2023, 2024). The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres are projected to play in Mexico City in April 2025.
MLB has seen significant growth in the Asian market, notably due to Shohei Ohtani's popularity. The league has consistently opened seasons in Tokyo and recently in Seoul, South Korea.
"Our approach to international has always been country by country, largely because we find the places we're interested in to be in different stages of development," Manfred said.
New Media Rights Deals: ESPN, NBC, Netflix, and Apple
Commissioner Manfred confirmed that MLB is nearing agreements for its media rights spanning 2026-2028. These include deals with NBCUniversal for the Wild Card Series and Sunday night regular-season games, Netflix for the All-Star Home Run Derby, and ESPN for a regular-season package plus in-market rights for select teams. The existing agreement with Apple will remain in effect.
While ESPN will not retain Sunday night games, the new agreement ensures their continued partnership with MLB. Manfred expressed excitement about partnering with Netflix and emphasized the importance of broadcast television for Sunday night baseball.
Future of MLB Media Rights: National vs. Local
Looking ahead to 2029, Manfred anticipates an increase in nationally televised games. While local broadcast solutions will remain essential given the volume of MLB games, the league aims to prioritize national exposure to maximize revenue.
MLB wants each team’s games on fewer channels. Getting more national and getting more games out there on a national basis has to be your No. 1 priority, according to Manfred.
