What Teams Will Face Off in the 2026 World Series?

The Rays and the Brew Crew have three combined World Series appearances in their team’s histories; Tampa Bay has previously appeared twice: in 2008, they lost four games to one versus the Philadelphia Phillies, and in 2020, they lost four games to two versus the Los Angeles Dodgers; meanwhile, Milwaukee appeared in 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

The path to representing the National League in the 2026 World Series was not easy for the Milwaukee Brewers: opening up the postseason with a first-round Bye, they defeated the San Diego Padres three games to one and swept the NL West Champion Los Angeles Dodgers four games to none.

Meanwhile, the road to representing the American League was not a walk in the park for the Tampa Bay Rays.

With a first-round Bye, they swept division rival three games to zero and defeated the AL Central Champion, the Cleveland Guardians.

Furthermore, the Tampa Bay Rays' path to success has not been easy.

Before 2024 Opening Day, the team said goodbye to Left Fielder Randy Arozarena, Third Baseman Isaac Paredes, Starting Pitcher Zach Eflin, and Starting Pitcher Aaron Civale.

Since then, they have called up Third Baseman Junior Caminero, who was previously traded from the Cleveland Guardians, acquired former New York Mets Starting Pitcher Freddy Peralta, right-handed pitcher Griffin Jax, and called up Left Fielder Chandler Simpson.

Meanwhile, for Milwaukee, their recent success has been in large part calling up top starting pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski, acquiring Catcher Bo Naylor, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, Infielder David Hamilton, left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana, and First Baseman Jake Bauers.

Overall, this year’s World Series will have profound implications for baseball.

It will feature two of the smallest-market teams in Major League Baseball, will grow fan engagement with the team, and will be an attraction to big-league stars.