13 July 2023 , 14:06
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Major League Baseball has announced that the first game of the 2024 season will take place in South Korea.
The two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will be staged in South Korea. The games will take place in Seoul on March 20 and 21.
The series in Seoul will mark the opening of the 2024 MLB regular season, and will also be the first time that the league has staged games in South Korea. Other locations that will play host to international series for MLB include Mexico City, London and the Dominican Republic.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a statement on Wednesday that the international series would be expanding across the globe thanks to the growing popularity of the sport.
"Major League Baseball is incredibly excited for this extensive slate of international games in 2024," Manfred told .
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"Our recent efforts have produced strong enthusiasm around the globe, and we look forward to building on that foundation with returns to Mexico City and London, while also opening the season in Korea for the first time.
“In addition, we can’t wait to celebrate the tradition of the sport in the Dominican Republic with our visit to Santo Domingo next March. We are thrilled that our fans across four different countries outside the United States and Canada will have the opportunity to see the game’s stars."
Dodgers president Stan Kasten explained how the trip to Seoul next season will help to grow the game of baseball. "The Dodgers have a long and proud history of helping to grow the game abroad, highlighted by our trips to Mexico, China and Australia. It's very exciting to add Korea to the list," Kasten said.
The San Diego Padres will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers in a two-game series in Seoul in 2024 (Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"I know our players are thrilled to put their talents on display in a country so rich with baseball tradition and talent, including former Dodgers Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi and Hyun Jin Ryu."
As well as Seoul, London will also host its annual international series for MLB. The New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies will meet on June 8 and 9 next year at the London Stadium, home of West Ham United.
London recently hosted MLB’s two-game series at the London Stadium between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs won the first game 9-1 on June 24 before the Cardinals won the second game of the series 7-5 a day later.
Mexico City will host a two-game series between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies on April 27 and 28 next year. The Dominican Republic will host a two-game series as part of spring training between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays.