The 2026 World Series opens on Friday, Oct. 23, with the Tampa Bay Rays at the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 1 is at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Every game of the 2026 World Series airs on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes. Neither franchise has won a World Series, so whoever wins, baseball gets a first-time champion.
The 2026 World Series Schedule
The World Series is a best-of-seven series, so the first team to win four games is crowned champion. It uses a 2-3-2 format, and in 2026 the team with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7. That team is Milwaukee, after winning an MLB-best 103 games in the regular season.
| Game | Date | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Friday, Oct. 23 | American Family Field, Milwaukee |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Oct. 24 | American Family Field, Milwaukee |
| Game 3 | Monday, Oct. 26 | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg |
| Game 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg |
| Game 5 (if necessary) | Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg |
| Game 6 (if necessary) | Friday, Oct. 30 | American Family Field, Milwaukee |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | Saturday, Oct. 31 | American Family Field, Milwaukee |
Every game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on FOX and streams on FOX One. If a winner-take-all Game 7 is necessary, it would be played on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31. For families, that means the middle of the Series lands on school nights, and a deciding game would share the evening with trick-or-treating.
How the Rays and Brewers Got Here
Tampa Bay took the long road. The Rays won the American League by beating the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 in the ALCS, and they clinched with a 7-3 win in Game 6 on Oct. 19.
Milwaukee's path was quicker. After winning an MLB-best 103 games in the regular season and beating the San Diego Padres in four games in the National League Division Series, the Brewers swept the defending, back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
That sweep closed a chapter. The Los Angeles Dodgers won in 2024 and again in 2025, and their run ended with a sweep by the Brewers in the 2026 NLCS.
A Guaranteed First-Time Champion
The 2026 World Series is the first meeting between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers in the Fall Classic, and the first since 1980 between two franchises that had never won it. Whoever wins, a new name goes on the list of champions.
Both clubs have come close before. The Rays lost the 2008 World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies and the 2020 World Series to the Dodgers. The Brewers' only previous trip came in 1982, when they were an American League team, and they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
That history gives the Series a family feel in both regions. In Milwaukee, some fans can still describe the 1982 run to children and grandchildren who have only seen it in old photos. Households in the Tampa Bay region that lived through the 2008 and 2020 losses get a third chance at a first title.
A Milwaukee Story Worth Knowing: The Timeless Ticket
One of the more charming storylines started more than a decade ago. In 2015, the Brewers put 1,000 "Timeless Tickets" up for sale, which entailed a $1,000 payment for a ticket that could be used for any future contest with no deadline to select a game. The Brewers define a timeless ticket as a brass ticket personalized with an engraving of the owner's name.
The team's own wording covers this exact moment: "Whether it's this season, the year 2050, or the 7th game of the World Series, all are valid games to redeem a Timeless Ticket." FOX Sports reported that Nate Holzman, a Brewers fan who now lives in Los Angeles, told WISN he hoped to finally redeem his.
A ticket with a name engraved on it sat in a drawer for years and became a story worth telling the moment the team made it.
Hosting a World Series Watch Party at Home
With first pitch at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Series is a dinner-and-a-ballgame event for most of the country. A few simple choices keep a watch party relaxed, especially on school nights:
- Eat before first pitch. A pot of chili, a tray of bratwurst or a build-your-own taco bar is easy to serve and easy to keep warm through the late innings.
- Give kids a job. A simple paper scorecard keeps younger fans engaged, and they can record each run as it happens.
- Plan the bedtime cutoff. On the weeknight games, decide in advance how many innings the kids will watch, and let them hear the final score at breakfast.
Dressing in Series Colors
This matchup is kind to mixed households because both clubs lean on blue. The Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a new powder blue alternate road jersey for the 2026 season. According to the Brewers, it has yellow accents, representing Milwaukee's brewing heritage, and navy blue details. The Rays changed their road look in September: the new design replaces the Columbia blue jerseys featuring the burst logo, and the cap swaps black swatches for modern navy blue.
Put together, navy, yellow and light blue cover both sides of the room. A personalized baseball jersey is the easiest way to look the part, and it works over a long-sleeve tee on a cool October evening. The first pick below is described by color only: one of its colorways is a navy jersey with gold script and gold numbers.
Some fans would rather lean into the lighter blue. A soft, sky-like shade stands out in a room full of navy, and it nods both to powder blue and to the light-blue road jerseys many households still own. A light-blue pinstripe jersey with navy-and-white lettering is a good fit for a fan, or a child, who wants something brighter for the couch or a backyard screen.
We are an independent brand and are not affiliated with Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays or the Milwaukee Brewers; these picks simply share the teams' colors.
Keeping the Memory of a First Title Run
A first championship, or even a first pennant in decades, is the kind of season families want to remember. The keepsakes do not need to be elaborate. Save the scorecard your kids filled in during Game 1. Take one photo of everyone in their colors before first pitch, and print it. Write the final score and date on the back.
Many fans also mark the year in a way they will see again, such as a name-and-number ornament for the holiday tree or a framed photo for a game room.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I watch the World Series without cable?
Stream the World Series live on FOX One, which carries every FOX broadcast of the Fall Classic. FOX games are also available on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app with an eligible TV provider login.
Who won the World Series last year?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in a seven-game series that ended with a 5-4 win in 11 innings in Game 7. It was the Dodgers' second straight title and made them the first repeat champions since the 2000 New York Yankees.
How long has the World Series been played?
The World Series has decided Major League Baseball's champion since 1903, when the Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern Fall Classic. It has been played every year since except 1904 and 1994.
What is the World Series trophy called?
The winning club receives the Commissioner's Trophy. In 2026, it will go to a franchise that has never won it before.
Sources
- FOX: Watch World Series 2026 Live: Streaming, TV Channel and Start Time
- FOX Sports: Brewers Fan Cashing In On 'Timeless Ticket' Purchase For 2026 World Series Seat
- Cincinnati Enquirer via Yahoo Sports: When does the 2026 World Series start? Teams, odds and more
- WISN: Milwaukee Brewers unveil new powder blue road jersey
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay Rays unveil fan-voted road jerseys ahead of Yankees matchup
If a navy or light-blue jersey fits your Series plans, the baseball jersey collection has more personalized colorways to compare.
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