MLB prevents Blue Jays from playing first regular-season international game since 2001

"However, with West Ham at home for their final match of the 2025-26 Premier League season on May 25, officials were worried it wasn't enough time to convert the field from football (soccer) to baseball. On top of that, when MLB officials were looking to play later in the month, scheduling conflicts with Fox also arose, as they didn't have enough broadcasting slots due to their commitment to the 2026 FIFA World Cup."

"London Stadium has hosted MLB games on three separate occasions, starting in 2019, when the Yankees swept their two-game series against the Red Sox. After the 2020 games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago Cubs and St.Louis Cardinals split their series in 2023. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets also split their series the year after."

"The Blue Jays opened the 2001 MLB season in Puerto Rico against the Texas Rangers, where they won 8-1 in front of 19,871 fans at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Shannon Stewart, who went 3-for-5, and Tony Batista, who went 2-for-4, each hit home runs. Esteban Loaiza was the Opening Day Starter and shone on the mound. Loaiza threw seven strong innings, with nine strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run."

MLB canceled a two-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees planned for June 13-14 at London Stadium. West Ham’s final home match on May 25 raised concerns that there would not be enough time to convert the field from football to baseball. Attempts to move the games later in June encountered scheduling conflicts with Fox because of the network’s commitments to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. London Stadium previously hosted MLB games in 2019, had 2020 games canceled due to COVID-19, and hosted series in 2023 and the following year. The Blue Jays last played a regular-season international game in 2001 in Puerto Rico, winning 8-1.

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