World Cup Venues Next to MLB Stadiums Create Unusual Schedule Breaks for Baseball Teams

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time since 1994, is coinciding with the MLB regular season in 11 shared markets, creating unusual scheduling opportunities and off-days for 13 major league teams. The tournament features 104 matches over nearly six weeks with teams from 48 nations playing at 16 venues, many of which are adjacent to baseball stadiums or located within reasonable travel distance.

In Texas, AT&T Stadium in Arlington hosts a tournament-high nine World Cup matches immediately adjacent to Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have adjusted their schedule with split series and a Monday off on July 6 for a round of 16 match. Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson called it "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Manager Skip Schumaker and his staff were so energized by Scottish fans creating a European soccer atmosphere at a recent Rangers game in Boston that they are seeking tickets to World Cup matches despite minimal soccer knowledge.

Kansas City is hosting six World Cup matches at an NFL stadium in the same complex as the Kansas City Royals' ballpark, with both the Cardinals and Royals scheduled off on Saturday when Ecuador plays Curaçao. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, whose wife played college soccer, plan to attend. "It's awesome that Kansas City got access to World Cup games," Pasquantino said. In Philadelphia, the Phillies will be off Friday during their series against the Mets as Brazil plays Haiti at nearby Lincoln Financial Field.

Other MLB teams benefiting from the World Cup proximity include the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles teams. The Yankees and Mets both have games scheduled on each of the eight World Cup dates at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, though Yankee Stadium is about 14 miles away and Citi Field about 24 miles distant. World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium will be approximately 13 miles from Dodger Stadium. Both Texas and Kansas City are off on July 3 for round of 32 matches, with the Rangers opening a series against Detroit and the Royals starting an unusual Saturday-to-Monday series against the Phillies.