MLB Drops 2026 Yankees-London Games Citing Stadium Conversion, Broadcast Conflicts
Commissioner Rob Manfred confirms plan scrapped as West Ham schedule and World Cup TV obligations make dates infeasible
Major League Baseball has canceled plans to stage two regular-season games in London in 2026 between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, citing scheduling conflicts at the stadium and a lack of broadcast availability.
The games had been scheduled for June 13 and 14, 2026, at London Stadium, home of English Premier League club West Ham United. Manfred told attendees at Front Office Sports’ "Tuned In" event in New York City that the May 24 season finale for West Ham, against Leeds United, would leave insufficient time to convert the venue from soccer to baseball. He also said Fox did not have open broadcast slots later in June because of the FIFA World Cup.
The decision marks the second recent European plan shelved by MLB after earlier proposals for Paris were scrapped when the league and the MLB Players Association were unable to secure a promoter. MLB first held regular-season games in London in 2019, when the Yankees faced the Boston Red Sox, and returned in 2024 for a two-game series between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies at the same West Ham venue.
"We remain interested in Europe. We think London is an important jumping off point for us," Manfred said, according to the Associated Press, adding that the stadium "has come a long way" since the 2019 games because of investments by the venue. He reiterated the league's long-term intent to pursue growth in developed European markets despite the setback.
MLB officials had eyed London as a gateway to expand the sport’s reach internationally, but converting multiuse stadiums that host domestic soccer seasons has complicated scheduling. Venue turnarounds require time for field reconstruction, seating and configuration changes, and compliance with Major League Baseball standards.
Manfred also used the appearance to provide an update on MLB's media-rights negotiations. He said the league is close to finalizing agreements reported publicly in recent weeks: NBCUniversal is positioned to acquire rights to the wild-card playoff round and Sunday night regular-season games, Netflix would carry the Home Run Derby, and ESPN would air weekday regular-season games. "They are the agreements that have been reported publicly and we hope to push them across the finish line," Manfred said.
The canceled London dates underscore competing logistical and commercial pressures facing MLB as it balances international expansion with broadcast obligations and domestic scheduling. League officials have continued to evaluate opportunities in Europe, but the combination of stadium availability and global sports calendars — particularly marquee events such as the World Cup — has proved a limiting factor for mid-June scheduling in 2026.
MLB did not immediately announce alternative international dates or venues. Representatives for West Ham United and Fox did not provide immediate comment on the decision. The league’s future plans for Europe will likely hinge on improved stadium availability windows and clearer broadcast timing as negotiations on media rights progress.