By Tiffany Williams –
Major League Baseball is hauling its traveling circus back to Mexico City in 2026, and the matchup is a spicy one: Diamondbacks vs. Padres, April 25-26, Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. Two “home” games for Arizona in the thin air and loud chaos of CDMX, the newest stop on MLB’s WORLD TOUR — and the third straight year the league turns Mexico’s capital into its own altitude-drunk batting practice.
The D-backs practically treat Mexico like a second spring training site. They’ve logged more games south of the border than anyone in MLB, and they act like it. Their globetrotting résumé reads like a passport that’s run out of pages — Monterrey in 2019, Sydney in 2014, and a parade of exhibition trips through Hermosillo, Culiacan, and beyond going back to the late ’90s. It’s a franchise obsessed with building its brand internationally, and Derrick Hall made it clear why, saying, “We are extremely excited to showcase our brand internationally once again and thank Major League Baseball for selecting us,” and, “We have played more games in Mexico than any other team in the league and have invested heavily in growing our fanbase across the border over the years. Mexico has long been a valued location and focal point for us in searching for talent, building relationships, and growing the number of loyal D-backs followers.”
Translation: the D-backs want Mexico, and they want it badly.
San Diego? They’re no strangers to passports either. Their last international hop was Seoul to open the 2024 season, and they’ve already tasted the Mexico City madness in 2023. Monterrey, Beijing, Culiacan — the Padres have been everywhere short of the moon. And they’re treating this return like a victory lap. Padres CEO Erik Greupner didn’t hold back, saying, “We are honored to bring Padres baseball back to Mexico City for another unforgettable series in 2026,” and, “Our debut there in 2023 was historic, and this return reflects our continued commitment to celebrate our bi-national fan base and help grow the game of baseball internationally. We are excited to play once again at beautiful Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in front of passionate Mexican baseball fans and our faithful fans who will join us on the journey to this world-class city and ballpark.”
This is what happens when MLB realizes fans in Mexico actually show up, get loud, and spend money — suddenly everyone wants to be the team of the Americas.
Tickets drop January 19 through Ticketmaster, which means fans will have about 12 minutes before the bots vaporize them. MLB promises more info soon on MLB.com/Mexico, but the message is already clear: in 2026, baseball’s biggest party won’t be in the Bronx, LA, or Wrigley.
It’ll be in Mexico City — and the D-backs and Padres are ready to fight for the spotlight.
Sports Insider Daily 