Baseball may be America’s pastime, but MLB has a habit of starting its season just about anywhere except America. Whether it’s Tokyo, Sydney, or even Seoul, the league loves to pack up its bats, cross a few time zones, and declare “Play Ball!” on foreign soil. Call it expansion, call it a PR move—either way, it’s a spectacle.
And with the MLB season opener just around the corner, let’s have a look back at some of the previous season openers and where they were held.
Historic first: When MLB opened its season in Mexico
In 1999, the first MLB opening day game outside of the USA. The Colorado Rockies faced the Padres at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey in Mexico. This was a game that was taken over by the San Diego Padres as they beat the Rockies 8-2. This came as a result of a strong pitching performance by Andy Ashby who allowed just 1 run over the first 7 innings.
Tony Gwynn, led the batting for the Padres with 3 hits and 2 RBIs. This game was held to showcase the leagues’ commitment to expanding and making the sport well-known internationally.
Tokyo takeover: MLB’s frequent visits to Japan for Opening Day
In the year 2000, Japan hosted the first MLB opening day. This is when the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs visited the Tokyo Dome. The first game was very close as the Cubs beat the Mets 5–3, thanks to some strong pitching from Jon Lieber. But the Mets ended up defeating the Cubs in game 2 and tied the series 1-1.
The MLB visited Japan again in 2004 when the New York Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Both game 1 and game 2 were very entertaining as they were high-scoring affairs. While the Rays won game 1 8-3, the Yankees beat them 12-1 in game 2. Hideki Matsui showed his worth in the game 2.
The 2008 Tokyo Series was one of the most exciting ever as it featured the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics. After 10 innings in game 1, the Red Sox came out on the winning side while game 2 ended the other way. Further, the 2012 and 2019 Tokyo Series were held between the Seattle Mariners and Athletics. While the series in 2012 ended 1-1, the 2019 series was dominated by the Mariners as they swept the Athletics.
Australia’s big moment: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks in Sydney
The MLB also made a move to Australia for the opening day in 2014. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks traveled to Sydney and put on a show for the baseball fans down under. The Dodgers took home the series as they won it 2-0 with some brilliant performances from Clayton Kershaw in game 1.
This was one of the best games he pitched, allowing just one run in the 6 2/3 innings he pitched. The second game was a batting fest as Yasiel Puig had three hits and Dee Gordon topped it with two triples to sweep the series.
Korea joins the club: Dodgers and Padres break new ground in Seoul
The Seoul Series featured two teams that have had a rivalry for many years. This was a 2 game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Padres. Over the two games both the teams shared the spoils as the Dodgers took game 1 and Padres took game 2. This series showed some of the most dominant pitching displays by Julio Urias and current Dodgers superstar Blake Snell.
Upcoming opener: Dodgers and Cubs set for Tokyo return in 2025
The MLB again decided to take a tour of Tokyo in 2025 and set the opening day games there. This time the Los Angeles Dodgers will be accompanied by the Chicago Cubs. The hype for this series is on the top and Japanese stars are making some big appearances. There will also be 2 exhibition games before the series starts.
The organizers will hold all the games in the Tokyo Dome, and they will feature a 2 game Tokyo Series. The first game will be held on March 18 and will have Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga. The second game on March 19 will introduce Roki Sasaki as the pitcher for the Dodgers and Justin Steele for the Cubs.
Why MLB expands Opening Day to global venues
The main reason MLB is doing this is to make sure the sport becomes global. By hosting opening-day matches in Japan, South Korea, and Australia they are tapping into emerging baseball markets and building its international fan base.
Beyond fan engagement, this also drives commercial success. This type of outside USA series pulls in multiple international sponsors, media rights agreements, and merch market opportunities in the international market. This will also strengthen the partnership between the local culture and the game.
MLB’s globe-trotting Opening Days aren’t just about baseball—they’re about planting flags, selling jerseys, and proving that America’s pastime has an international passport. Whether it’s Tokyo, Sydney, or Seoul, the message is clear: baseball isn’t just for Americans anymore. Love it or roll your eyes at it, Opening Day is now a worldwide spectacle—so get used to it.
The post Every MLB Season Opener Held Outside the United States: Full List and Key Highlights appeared first on EssentiallySports.