The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just win Game 1 of the 2025 World Series — they ignited a global baseball fever not seen since the late 2010s. On Friday, October 25, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Blue Jays crushed the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, in front of a roaring, sold-out crowd — and an estimated 112 million viewers worldwide. According to Major League Baseball’s official data released on October 27, 2025, this was the most-watched World Series opener since 2017, with international audiences driving the surge. It wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural moment.
Global Baseball, One Game at a Time
The 2025 World Series, presented by Capital One, is being broadcast in 203 countries and territories through 44 media partners in 16 languages. That’s not just wide — it’s unprecedented for a team from Canada. The Los Angeles Dodgers had already stoked international interest by opening the 2025 regular season in Tokyo on March 18, 2025, and their playoff run only intensified it. Their National League Championship Series sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers drew 7.34 million average viewers in Japan — a 26% jump from 2024. But nothing compared to Game 4 of the NLCS, when Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters. That single game pulled in 10.26 million viewers in Japan — the second-highest LCS viewership ever in the country.
And it wasn’t just Japan. In Mexico, viewership spiked 41% from last year. In South Korea, where Hyeseong Kim plays for the Dodgers, fans packed public screens in Seoul and Busan. Even in Venezuela, where Miguel Rojas hails from, local TV stations broke programming to carry the game live.
Canada’s Long-Awaited Return to the Fall Classic
The Toronto Blue Jays hadn’t reached the World Series since 1993 — the year they last won it all. That 32-year drought ended in dramatic fashion. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batting third and Bo Bichette at shortstop, the Jays’ offense came alive early. George Springer opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second, and Alejandro Kirk’s two-out double in the fifth broke the game open. Starter Trey Yesavage held the Dodgers’ powerhouse lineup in check through six innings, aided by a pair of spectacular catches from Myles Straw in right field.
For Canadian fans, it wasn’t just about baseball. It was about pride. In Toronto, the streets around Rogers Centre were alive with flags, drumlines, and chants of "Let’s go Jays!" By the ninth inning, the city’s traffic lights were flashing blue and red — a spontaneous, unofficial celebration. "This isn’t just a team," said longtime fan Maria Lopes, 58, holding a 1993 championship scarf. "This is our moment again. We’ve waited decades. And now? We’re not just watching. We’re part of history."
Stars on Both Sides — A Global Lineup
The 2025 World Series features a remarkable blend of international talent. The Dodgers’ roster alone includes eight players born outside the U.S.: Shohei Ohtani (Japan), Teoscar Hernández (Dominican Republic), Kiké Hernández (Puerto Rico), Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan), Andy Pages (Cuba), Miguel Rojas (Venezuela), and Hyeseong Kim (South Korea). That’s more than a third of their active roster.
The Blue Jays, while less publicized in their international makeup, feature stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic), George Springer (Canada), and Andrés Giménez (Venezuela). Their lineup is a mirror of modern baseball: global, diverse, and deeply connected.
What’s at Stake — History on the Line
The Dodgers are chasing something no team has done since the 2000 Yankees: back-to-back World Series titles. They’ve got the talent. They’ve got the momentum. But they’re facing a Toronto team that’s playing with house money. The Jays haven’t won since 1993, and the pressure isn’t on them — it’s on Los Angeles to prove they’re a dynasty.
Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. put it best in a statement on October 27: "This World Series will demonstrate that America’s favorite pastime is also truly a global game." And he’s right. The numbers don’t lie. In Japan, MLB’s streaming app crashed for 47 minutes during Ohtani’s third homer. In Mexico, local schools delayed afternoon classes so students could watch. In Toronto, a local bakery sold 3,200 "Jays Blue" cupcakes in 24 hours.
What Comes Next?
Game 2 is set for Sunday, October 27, 2025, at Rogers Centre, with Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow taking on Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman. If Toronto wins again, they’ll become the first team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds to win the first two games of a World Series on home soil. And if the Dodgers even the series? The tension will shift to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Tuesday — where the stakes will feel even heavier.
One thing’s certain: baseball isn’t just a U.S. sport anymore. It’s a worldwide spectacle. And in 2025, it found its most electric stage yet — in the heart of Toronto.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 2025 World Series viewership so much higher than recent years?
The surge is driven by global star power — especially Shohei Ohtani’s historic NLCS performance and the Toronto Blue Jays’ first World Series appearance since 1993. International markets like Japan, Mexico, and South Korea saw double-digit viewership jumps, with Japan alone accounting for over 10 million viewers on key games. MLB’s expanded broadcast reach across 203 countries and 16 languages also played a major role.
How many international players are on each team in the 2025 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers have eight internationally born players on their roster, including stars from Japan, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. The Toronto Blue Jays feature at least five, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic), Andrés Giménez (Venezuela), and George Springer (Canada). Combined, the two teams have 13 players from eight different countries, making this the most globally diverse World Series in MLB history.
Has any team ever repeated as World Series champions since 2000?
No. The New York Yankees were the last team to win back-to-back titles, achieving it in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Since then, no team has repeated — not even the 2016 Cubs, 2018 Red Sox, or 2022 Astros. The Dodgers are trying to break that 25-year drought, which adds immense pressure to their quest in 2025.
What was the significance of Game 4 of the NLCS for Japanese viewers?
Game 4 of the NLCS, where Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters, drew 10.26 million viewers in Japan — the second-highest viewership for any LCS game in Japanese history. It surpassed the previous record set in 2021 and sparked nationwide celebrations, with social media trending globally under #OhtaniLegend. Many Japanese sports analysts called it "the greatest individual postseason performance ever."
Why is Rogers Centre so important to this World Series?
Rogers Centre hasn’t hosted a World Series game since 1993, when the Blue Jays won their second consecutive title. This year’s return marks the first time a Canadian team has reached the Fall Classic in 32 years, making the venue a symbol of national pride. The stadium’s capacity of 54,000 sold out for Game 1, and Canadian TV ratings hit their highest since the 1992 World Series — proving the country’s enduring love for baseball.
How does this World Series compare to past international baseball moments?
This series surpasses even the 2013 World Series (Red Sox vs. Cardinals) in global viewership, largely due to Japan’s massive interest in Ohtani and Canada’s emotional return. Unlike past international games — like the 2008 MLB Japan All-Star Series or the 2013 World Baseball Classic — this is a true championship with real stakes, broadcast live across continents. It’s the closest baseball has come to a true global finale since the 1990s.