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MLB Drops Plan for London Games in 2026, Says Nearing TV Deals with NBC, ESPN, Netflix
The cancellation results from West Ham's stadium being booked for a soccer match and Fox lacking broadcast slots due to World Cup commitments, affecting MLB's international plans.
Major League Baseball will not hold the two scheduled games in London next season, originally set for June 13 and 14 at West Ham's stadium, due to conflicts with the venue's schedule and broadcasting limitations.
The cancellation was caused by conflicts with West Ham’s Premier League final and the inability to find suitable TV scheduling because of men's World Cup commitments.
Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed that the planned games in London will not take place, but emphasized that MLB remains committed to exploring opportunities in Europe, viewing London as a crucial gateway for future expansion.
Manfred revealed that MLB is close to finalizing publicly reported media rights deals for 2026-28 with Comcast's NBCUniversal, Netflix, Apple TV, and ESPN, and expressed optimism about successfully completing these agreements.
Manfred emphasized that MLB prioritizes national exposure with fewer channels per team and noted ongoing work on international grassroots initiatives, including efforts in India and Mexico.