The MLC 2026 Final takes place at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on Saturday, July 18, 2026, starting at 4:30 PM PDT (UTC-7). Oakland Coliseum holds 12,000 fans for MLC cricket, making this the biggest cricket match in United States sporting history for that edition. Whichever team lifts the trophy here becomes the fourth MLC champion and a part of American cricket history.

The MLC Final is contested between the Qualifier winner and the Challenger winner. San Francisco Unicorns (2023), Los Angeles Knight Riders (2024), and one previous champion have already made their mark. The 2026 title is the most coveted prize in American cricket.

MLC launched in 2023 with six franchises and a mission to transform cricket’s status in the world’s largest sports market. In four seasons, the league has attracted IPL-caliber talent, built dedicated venues including Oakland Coliseum and the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex, and grown a committed fanbase from coast to coast. The 2026 Final is proof of that journey.

Oakland Coliseum is the Bay Area’s cricket stadium and MLC’s showcase venue. The marine layer from San Francisco Bay creates testing conditions under floodlights in the evening, particularly for bowlers who can exploit seam movement. The crowd, drawn from Silicon Valley’s massive South Asian community, creates an environment that players across all T20 leagues have called one of cricket’s most electric atmospheres.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature cricket for the first time in 128 years. MLC is the proving ground for American cricket’s global ambitions, and this final is the league’s defining day.

When to watch: The 4:30 PM PDT start on July 18 converts to 12:30 AM BST on July 19 (London), 5:00 AM IST on July 19 (India), 9:30 AM AEST on July 19 (Sydney), and 7:30 PM EDT (New York). For current local time, check Oakland time and US time zones.

The MLC 2026 champion is decided here. Whichever franchise lifts the trophy at Oakland Coliseum joins San Francisco Unicorns (2023) and Los Angeles Knight Riders (2024) in American cricket’s short but growing title history.