In 2026, we will have a first-time World Series champion.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians7-3 on Monday, Oct. 19 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to punch their ticket to the World Series. They powered their way through the ALCS after going down 2-1 early and persevering after Game 4 was postponed due to rain. They were the top seed in the American League and swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

They will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who secured their spot in the Fall Classic by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. They beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the division series after finishing the regular season with a 103-59 record, making them the National League's top seed.

Both teams have appeared in the World Series before, with the Rays having more recent experience, but have yet to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy.

Which teams haven't won a World Series?

There are five teams that have never won a World Series. Two of them are the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, who will face each other in the 2026 World Series. The Seattle Mariners are the only active franchise to have never appear in a World Series.

When is the last time the Rays and Brewers played in the World Series?

The Rays and Brewers have three previous World Series appearances between them.

Tampa Bay has two of those, playing in the 2008 Fall Classic when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, and in the 2020 World Series where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's been a little bit longer since Milwaukee played in the World Series. They faced the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 and lost in seven games. That Brewers team featured several players who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Ted Simmons.