Major League Baseball (MLB) may be about to follow American football and stage a regular game in London, according to the body’s commissioner.

Rob Manfred said the MLB was “working hard” on organising regular-season games in the UK capital from 2017, but played down the prospect of the creation of a permanent franchise.

The MLB has been looking at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford as a potential venue for the matches. Manfred told Associated Press: “We are very interested in playing there, and we’re working hard on that one. I don’t think it will be an opener because of the weather issues. It would be later in the season.”

A high-profile match such as the New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox was not ruled out, although Manfred said that the MLB had not “really settled on teams”. He added: “Obviously, we want to make as good a first impression in Europe as we possibly can.”

The National Football League (NFL) has held a regular-season game in London every year since 2007, while the National basketball Association (NBA) plays one game a year at the O2 Arena.

A return to the Mexican market for the MLB is also on the cards for the first time since 2004, with the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros taking part in Spring Training games in Mexico City between March 26 and 27.