MLB Cancels 2026 London Series Between Yankees and Blue Jays

The Major League Baseball (MLB) has officially announced that the expected two-game series between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, slated for June 13-14, 2026, will not be held at London Stadium due to scheduling conflicts with the host venue and television networks.

According to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, logistical challenges led to the cancellation of this anticipated matchup. West Ham, the Premier League football club that shares the stadium, is scheduled to play its final game of the season against Leeds on May 24, making it impossible for MLB to prepare the field in time for the baseball games. Furthermore, Fox, the network set to broadcast the series, is also the principal television partner for the FIFA World Cup occurring from June 11 to July 19, creating additional complications for rescheduling.

As noted by The Athletic's Evan Drellich, the timeframe for access to the field proved to be unmanageable. With a 20-day gap between West Ham's game and the Yankees-Blue Jays series, MLB's field consultant, Murray Cook, highlighted that transforming the venue to accommodate baseball involves an extensive process, typically taking between 18 to 21 days – a timeline which has significantly reduced flexibility given the overlapping schedules.

The London Series made its debut in 2019, featuring the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Although a series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals was set for 2020, it was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league returned to London last year in 2023 with a rematch of the Cubs and Cardinals.

In spite of the absence of international games in the 2026 MLB regular-season schedule, fans can look forward to witnessing several MLB players competing in the World Baseball Classic from March 5-17. The league has yet to announce details on where the Yankees and Blue Jays will play their rescheduled games, leaving fans eagerly anticipating updates.