World Bowling League to Launch in Early 2026 With Six Franchises
- Erikas Jansonas
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 25
The World Bowling League (WBL) is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2026 with six international franchises. The information was shared by League Sports Co (LTC) founder and CEO Adi K Mishra in an interview with Reuters.
According to the LTC founder, backed by cricketer Virat Kohli and baseball player Mookie Betts, the WBL aims to transform bowling into a modern, made-for-TV competition. Mishra also criticized the way the sport has been managed in recent decades.
"It's an incredible sport which just hasn't been structured correctly for the past 50-60 years and everyone just dismisses it as a recreational activity," Mishra told Reuters.
According to Mishra, the first season will feature six teams, each made up of four bowlers—two men and two women. The first two franchises are already known: one owned by Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, and the other backed by Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli.
Los Angeles Dodgers star was the first to purchase a franchise, and Kohli joined the project as a strategic investor last month. In his conversation with Reuters, Mishra said that while the complete format has yet to be revealed, the main competition will involve professional bowlers. Celebrities will take part in separate entertainment-focused events, and teams will accumulate points throughout the season. Mishra also told Reuters that franchise negotiations are underway in countries including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and India. The WBL plans to stage its matches in visually striking venues such as Hudson Yards in New York, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and various landmark locations in Dubai and India.
BowlingLife reminds readers that on October 6, 2023—just one day before the IBF Congress and presidential election—the International Bowling Federation announced a landmark agreement with League Sports Co to launch the World Bowling League. We covered the initial announcement, including LTC’s background and the key terms of the agreement with the IBF, in an article published in October 2023.
