MLB scrap plans for Blue Jays to face Yankees in United Kingdom next season

While never announced, the Toronto Blue Jays were set to play two games against the New York Yankees in June 2026.

Did you know that? I sure didn’t, as ESPN reported on Tuesday that due to scheduling conflicts at London Stadium, the idea was scrapped. It also couldn’t be postponed due to the 2026 World Cup, go Canada.

The games were set for June 13 and 14th, which means that the Blue Jays would’ve been the “home” team. In a way, it’s a good thing that these games were cancelled, as the Blue Jays have been dominant at home this season, owning a 50-25 record at Rogers Centre this season. That’s the best record in the American League and second-best in Major League Baseball.

A big reason why the Blue Jays are on the verge of finishing first in the American League East is thanks to home games against the New York Yankees. In their first matchup at Rogers Centre in late June and early July, they swept a four-game series to take over the division. Later that month, the Blue Jays took two of three from the Yankees, giving them a 6-1 record at home against the Yankees, earning the tiebreaker in July.

At this point of the season, the American League East is the Blue Jays’ to lose, and that extends to the entirety of the American League, as they have a four-game lead over the Detroit Tigers and a three-and-a-half game lead over the Yankees for the best record in the AL. The other two times the Jays finished with the best record in the AL, they won the World Series in both seasons.

Aside from playing games in Canada, the Blue Jays have played just one other game in an international market. On April 1, 2001, the Blue Jays played the Texas Rangers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in front of 19,891 fans.

Time will tell when the Blue Jays will have another chance to play in an international game. While it would’ve been a nice change of pace, losing home games to play in a neutral venue seems less than ideal.