Blue Jays move start time for June 23 home game to avoid conflict with World Cup

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have moved an upcoming home game against the Houston Astros to an earlier start time to avoid a conflict with a FIFA World Cup game that evening.

The start time of the June 23 game at Rogers Centre was moved from 7:07 p.m. to 4:07 p.m. (Eastern Time).

In a Thursday news release, the Blue Jays said it was to “help sports fans in the city avoid scheduling conflicts with the World Cup.” Panama and Croatia were scheduled to play at 7 p.m. that night at nearby BMO Field.

“The new start time will make it easier for fans to enjoy both sporting events happening in Toronto that day without any overlap,” the Blue Jays said.

All baseball tickets will remain valid for the updated start time, the team said, adding no action was required from ticket-holders.

Toronto is hosting six World Cup games, including Canada’s Group B opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12. BMO Field is located near the waterfront in the city’s west end, about three kilometres away from Rogers Centre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2026.