The 2026 World Series begins tonight, and a first-time champion will be crowned. The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Friday, October 23, at 8 p.m. ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with every game of the best-of-seven series airing on FOX. Our full series preview breaks down how these two teams match up.

Neither franchise has ever won a World Series, which means the Fall Classic is guaranteed to produce history. Milwaukee is making its first World Series appearance since 1982, while Tampa Bay is back for the first time since the shortened 2020 season. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 World Series schedule: game dates, start times, TV channels and streaming options.

World Series 2026 Game 1 start time and TV

Game 1 of the 2026 World Series is set for Friday, October 23, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee, according to the official schedule reported by USA Today. The game will air nationally on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes. Game 1 will also air in Spanish on Univision, per reports.

Streaming options are broad: the series streams on FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and live-TV services that carry FOX, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV. Milwaukee earned home-field advantage after finishing the regular season with the best record in baseball at 103-59, compared to Tampa Bay’s 98-64.

The probable starting pitchers for the opener are aces Jacob Misiorowski for Milwaukee and Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay — a rematch of their April 1 regular-season duel, which Milwaukee won 8-2 behind a six-run eighth inning. Misiorowski went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA in the regular season and entered the series as the Cy Young favorite, while Rasmussen anchored a Rays staff that posted a 2.59 ERA this postseason.

Full 2026 World Series schedule: dates, times, TV channels

All games begin at 8 p.m. ET and air on FOX. The series follows the classic 2-3-2 format: Milwaukee hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, while Tampa Bay hosts Games 3, 4 and 5.

Game 1 – Friday, October 23, 8 p.m. ET (Rays at Brewers), FOX
Game 2 – Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m. ET (Rays at Brewers), FOX
Game 3 – Monday, October 26, 8 p.m. ET (Brewers at Rays), FOX
Game 4 – Tuesday, October 27, 8 p.m. ET (Brewers at Rays), FOX
Game 5 – Wednesday, October 28, 8 p.m. ET (Brewers at Rays), FOX (if necessary)
Game 6 – Friday, October 30, 8 p.m. ET (Rays at Brewers), FOX (if necessary)
Game 7 – Saturday, October 31, 8 p.m. ET (Rays at Brewers), FOX (if necessary)

The off days are Sunday, October 25, and Thursday, October 29. Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played at Tropicana Field — it will be the second World Series held at the Trop in the ballpark’s history, though Tampa Bay’s 2020 appearance was played at a neutral site in Arlington, Texas, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How the Rays and Brewers got here

Milwaukee rolled to the National League pennant behind the best record in baseball. The Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, trailing in every game of the four-game sweep but finding a way to win each time. Jake Bauers drove in six runs against the Dodgers to take NLCS MVP honors, while Jackson Chourio provided the spark in the Milwaukee lineup. The Brewers’ pitching staff posted a 2.03 ERA through eight postseason games, and closer Trevor Megill went a perfect four-for-four in save chances without allowing a run.

Tampa Bay’s path was tougher. The Rays fell behind 2-1 against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS, then stormed back with wins in Games 4, 5 and 6 to clinch the pennant on October 19. Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz both homered in the 7-3 clincher, with Diaz’s two-run shot in the eighth inning sealing the win. Closer Bryan Baker led all of baseball with 41 saves in the regular season.

The two clubs met just once in the regular season — a three-game set in Milwaukee in the opening week. The Brewers took two of three, including that April 1 game that now looks like a Game 1 preview.

A first-time champion is guaranteed

The history on the line is what makes this series special. Milwaukee lost its only previous World Series appearance in seven games in 1982. Tampa Bay lost its two previous trips — in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008, and in six games to the Dodgers in 2020. Once this series concludes, the number of MLB franchises without a World Series title drops from five to four.

Oddsmakers have installed Milwaukee as the favorite at around -160, per the New York Post’s betting preview — a reflection of the Brewers’ 103-win season, elite defense and deep bullpen. But Tampa Bay opened the season at roughly 50-1 to win it all and has defied expectations all October, which makes the underdog angle hard to dismiss.

Game 1 goes tonight at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

FAQ

What time does World Series 2026 Game 1 start?

Game 1 between the Rays and Brewers starts at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, October 23, 2026, at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

What channel is the World Series 2026 on?

Every game of the 2026 World Series airs nationally on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on FOX Deportes. Game 1 also airs on Univision in Spanish.

How can I stream the 2026 World Series?

The series streams on FOX One and the FOX Sports app, and through live-TV services that carry FOX, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV and Sling.

Who is playing in the 2026 World Series?

The Milwaukee Brewers (NL champions, 103-59) face the Tampa Bay Rays (AL champions, 98-64). Neither franchise has ever won a World Series, so a first-time champion is guaranteed.