The 2026 Fall Classic is officially set, and for the first time since 1980, we’re guaranteed to see a team hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy that has never won a championship before. That’s right, buckle up, baseball fans, because when the Milwaukee Brewers face off against the Tampa Bay Rays, history is going to be made, no matter what.
How We Got Here: NLCS and ALCS Drama
Milwaukee punched their ticket to the World Series in dominating fashion, completing a full sweep of the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. They were on fire, just steamrolling through the NL. Over in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays had to work a little harder for it, dispatching the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of their ALCS. Tropicana Field was rocking for that clincher. Both teams absolutely earned their spots, fighting tooth and nail to get here.
A New Champion, Guaranteed
Here’s the wild part, the thing that makes this World Series so special: neither the Brewers nor the Rays have ever won a championship. Think about that for a second! The Brewers have been around since 1969 and their last Fall Classic appearance was way back in 1982, when they were still an American League squad. The Rays, a much newer franchise, didn’t even exist until 1998, but this is already their third trip to the World Series, having also made it in 2008 and 2020. This matchup is a rarity, the first time two teams who have never won it all have met in the championship since the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in 1980. Someone’s drought is ending. Someone’s city is going to explode with joy.
What’s Next: Game 1 and the Road Ahead
Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night, heading straight to American Family Field in Milwaukee. You can catch every single game of the series at 5 p.m. PT, live on Fox. It’s going to be an incredible series, full of high stakes, and pure baseball drama. So, who are you pulling for to finally break through and claim their first-ever World Series title? Let us know who you’re rooting for!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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