Every autumn, Major League Baseball (MLB) crowns its champion in a seven-game showdown between the winners of its two leagues. Known to fans as the Fall Classic, it is the oldest and most prestigious team title in the sport, and a growing number of New Zealanders now set an early alarm to watch it live. This guide explains what the championship is, how teams reach it, how the series is decided, who has won it most often, and how to follow every pitch from Aotearoa.
Quick Facts
| Event | World Series (the “Fall Classic”) |
|---|---|
| First played | 1903 |
| Format | Best-of-seven; first team to four wins |
| Contested by | American League champion vs National League champion |
| Most titles | New York Yankees — 27 |
| 2025 champion | Los Angeles Dodgers (ninth title, back-to-back) |
| Watch in NZ | ESPN via Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now, Sky Go and Disney+ |
What the World Series Is
The World Series is the championship round of Major League Baseball, played each year between the pennant winners of the two leagues that make up MLB: the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). It is a best-of-seven series, which means the first team to win four games is the champion. A series can therefore be as short as four games (a 4–0 sweep) or run the full seven.
The event is nicknamed the “Fall Classic” because it is contested in the northern autumn, usually across late October and sometimes into early November. Despite the grand name, the competition features clubs from the United States and Canada only; the title dates back to an era when MLB described itself as the summit of the world’s professional game.
The Road to the Fall Classic
Reaching the final series is the climax of a very long season. Thirty teams play a 162-game regular season from spring through to late September, and only the strongest qualify for the postseason. Since 2022, twelve teams reach the playoffs — six from each league — made up of the three division winners and three “wild card” teams (the next-best finishers who did not win a division). You can read the full breakdown in our guide to how the MLB playoffs work, and see how qualification is tracked in MLB standings explained.
The two division winners with the best records in each league earn a bye straight to the Division Series, while the other four teams meet in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. Winners then advance through the best-of-five Division Series and the best-of-seven League Championship Series, which decides each league’s pennant. The two pennant winners finally meet for the title.
| Playoff round | Format | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Best-of-3 | Opening round for the four lower seeds in each league |
| Division Series (LDS) | Best-of-5 | Narrows each league to its final four |
| League Championship Series (LCS) | Best-of-7 | Crowns the AL and NL pennant winners |
| World Series | Best-of-7 | Crowns the overall MLB champion |
Format, Home-Field Advantage and Key Rules
The final is played in a 2–3–2 pattern: Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 are hosted by the team with home-field advantage, and Games 3, 4 and 5 are played at the other club’s ballpark. Home-field advantage goes to whichever pennant winner had the better regular-season record — a rule in place since 2017. (From 2003 to 2016 it was awarded to the league that won the All-Star Game, a quirk MLB has since dropped.)
Two other points help newcomers follow along. First, baseball has no game clock in the traditional sense; a contest runs until nine innings are complete and one side leads, so extra innings can stretch a game well past its usual length — our explainer on how long a baseball game lasts covers this in detail. Second, since 2022 both leagues use the designated hitter (a batter who hits in place of the pitcher), so the lineups look the same whichever park the game is in.
A Short History of the Championship
The first modern World Series was played in 1903, when the Boston Americans (now the Red Sox) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in what was then a best-of-nine contest. The event has run almost every year since, with two notable gaps: there was no series in 1904 after the National League champion declined to play, and the 1994 series was cancelled when a players’ strike ended the season early. For the deeper roots of the sport itself, see our look at who invented baseball.
Teams With the Most Titles
A handful of franchises have dominated the record books. The figures below are through the 2025 season.
| Team | Titles |
|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 27 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 11 |
| Athletics | 9 |
| Boston Red Sox | 9 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 |
| San Francisco Giants | 8 |
The Yankees’ total is comfortably the most of any club in North American professional sport, and includes a record five consecutive titles from 1949 to 1953.
Recent World Series Results
The last few finals have produced memorable baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers won in both 2024 and 2025, becoming the first team to repeat as champions in 25 years. Their 2025 win over the Toronto Blue Jays went the full distance, decided 5–4 in extra innings of Game 7, with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto named series Most Valuable Player (MVP).
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Series result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Toronto Blue Jays | 4–3 |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Dodgers | New York Yankees | 4–1 |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers | Arizona Diamondbacks | 4–1 |
| 2022 | Houston Astros | Philadelphia Phillies | 4–2 |
Key Points
- The World Series is MLB’s championship, played each October between the American and National League pennant winners.
- It is a best-of-seven series; the first team to win four games takes the title.
- Twelve teams enter the playoffs, but only two survive to the World Series.
- The New York Yankees lead all clubs with 27 championships.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers won in both 2024 and 2025 — the first repeat champions in 25 years.
- In New Zealand the games air in the morning and can be watched legally through ESPN on Sky and Disney+.
How to Watch the World Series in New Zealand
Because of the time difference, World Series games broadcast live during the morning or around midday in New Zealand rather than in prime time. A little planning — and some care to avoid spoilers on social media — lets Kiwi fans enjoy the action as it happens.
From 2026, MLB’s coverage sits primarily with ESPN under a new multi-year media agreement. In New Zealand, ESPN is carried by Sky, so the postseason can be watched on the Sky Sport channels and streamed through Sky Sport Now and the Sky Go app. ESPN also streams in New Zealand via Disney+, giving a second route to live games. For a fuller rundown of channels, apps, pricing and air times, see our guide to how to watch MLB games in New Zealand.
- Check the start time the night before — North American daylight-saving changes fall on different dates to New Zealand’s and can shift kickoff by an hour.
- If a decisive Game 7 clashes with work, confirm your service offers an unspoiled on-demand replay.
- Use an official MLB or broadcaster app for score alerts so you know when a game starts or swings.
Why Pitching Decides a Short Series
No single player shapes a baseball game more than the pitcher on the mound. In a best-of-seven series, managers plan their starting rotation carefully, because an ace starter will usually only start twice — often Games 1 and 5 — and may be asked to return on short rest if the team faces elimination. Elite starters pair velocity (fastballs commonly sitting around 150–160 km/h, or roughly 95–100 mph) with sharp breaking and off-speed pitches to upset a batter’s timing.
The bullpen — the relief pitchers who finish games — matters just as much over a compressed schedule, because arms tire quickly across seven games in nine or ten days. Our overview of the pitcher in baseball explains the role, the pitch types and how rotations are managed.
Following the World Series Through New Zealand Betting
Some fans add interest to the final by placing a wager, and it is worth understanding the local rules. In New Zealand, TAB NZ is the only legally licensed betting operator; since 28 June 2025 it has been unlawful for offshore operators to offer online sports or race betting to New Zealand residents. Betting is restricted to adults aged 18 and over. Common baseball markets offered include:
- Head-to-head (moneyline): picking the outright winner of a game.
- Run line: a fixed 1.5-run handicap applied to the favourite or underdog.
- Totals (over/under): whether the combined runs land above or below a set number.
- Futures: a long-range bet, such as backing a team to win the title before the season ends.
No betting market can be predicted reliably, and no amount of research changes the fact that outcomes are uncertain. Any wager should be treated as entertainment spending, never as a way to make money.
Responsible Gambling
This article is for general information only and is not betting or financial advice. Gambling in New Zealand is legal for adults aged 18 and over, and the only licensed operator is TAB NZ. Betting carries risk, and losses are the normal outcome over time; set a fixed limit in advance and never bet money you cannot afford to lose.
If gambling is causing you or someone you know harm, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655, by texting 8006, or online at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the World Series only for American teams?
Almost, but not entirely. The teams come from Major League Baseball, which is based in the United States and includes one Canadian club, the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto reached the 2025 final, so a non-US team can and does appear.
How many games are in the World Series?
It is a best-of-seven series, so the first team to win four games is the champion. That means the series lasts between four and seven games depending on how quickly one team reaches four wins.
Which team has won the most World Series titles?
The New York Yankees, with 27 championships through the 2025 season. That is far more than any other club; the St. Louis Cardinals are next with 11.
Who won the most recent World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won in 2025, beating the Toronto Blue Jays in a seven-game series. It was their second title in a row after also winning in 2024, and their ninth overall.
How can I watch the World Series in New Zealand?
MLB coverage is carried by ESPN, which in New Zealand is available on the Sky Sport channels, Sky Sport Now, Sky Go and via Disney+. Games are shown live, which usually means morning viewing because of the time difference.
