MLB Mexico City Series Opens: Diamondbacks vs Padres at Alfredo Harp Helú; Sheinbaum Advances Sports Tourism Agenda Ahead of FIFA World Cup

The 2026 MLB Mexico City Series opened on April 25 at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú as the Arizona Diamondbacks faced the San Diego Padres in the first of two regular-season games hosted in the Mexican capital. President Claudia Sheinbaum had set the stage on April 24 by welcoming both teams — players, managers, and MLB executives — at the National Palace, receiving personalized jerseys, autographed bats, and balls before appearing alongside the teams in a ceremonial gathering. Sheinbaum called baseball 'the king of sports' requiring 'discipline, mind, and a lot of heart,' pledging to 'continue working to strengthen this relationship and foster passion among youth.' The 2026 edition is the third consecutive MLB regular-season series in Mexico City (after 2023 Giants vs Padres and 2024 Astros vs Rockies), and carries particular diplomatic and tourism weight as Mexico prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026 starting June 11 alongside the United States and Canada. Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú — home of the Diablos Rojos del México in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and located in the Iztacalco borough — can accommodate approximately 23,000 spectators and was packed for the event. For Sheinbaum's administration, the MLB series reinforces Mexico's international sports profile while demonstrating that international tourist events continue normally, a key message following the April 20 Teotihuacán shooting of a Canadian tourist that briefly raised security concerns. A second game is scheduled for April 26, the same day the 'Tren Felipe Ángeles' AIFA express inaugurates — an infrastructure pairing that frames Mexico City as an increasingly connected international sports and tourism destination.