The NFL has announced that the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play in the first-ever game in Australia.
The NFC West rivals will battle it out on the other side of the world at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, although a date and kickoff time has not yet been set.
The Australia game – at the 100,000 capacity MCG – is expected to be Week 1 and raises the unusual prospect of the NFL starting its season before Labor Day, which falls on September 7. It could be as early as the Wednesday or Thursday before the federal holiday.
The game in Melbourne will see the NFL stage a record nine international games in 2026. Games will also be played in London, Madrid, Paris, Munich, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City.
The Melbourne game is part of a multiyear commitment and represents a new frontier for the NFL’s aggressive international plan. The league has never staged a regular-season game so far from home, and commissioner Roger Goodell has already said Asia will follow ‘shortly thereafter.’
‘As we continue our preparations for the NFL’s first-ever regular season game at the MCG in Melbourne, we are delighted that the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams,’ said NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager Charlotte Offord.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play in the first-ever NFL game in Australia
The NFC West rivals will battle it out on the other side of the world at Melbourne’s iconic MCG
‘The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under.’
The Rams, alongside the Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles, hold international marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, an initiative that grants global marketing rights to clubs in markets outside of the U.S.
‘Bringing the NFL to the MCG is a huge win both on and off the field – and hosting a team like the San Francisco 49ers will make it even better,’ said premier of victoria Jacinta Allan.
‘We can’t wait to welcome these two great teams to Melbourne and showcase the best of our city and our state.’
Despite the NFL’s persistence on international growth, there are questions about scheduling, the risks to players as the air miles add up, and the quality of play.
‘The voice of the players and what´s in their best interests come from our membership, not management,’ NFLPA media relations director Brandon Parker said this week.
‘That´s why it´s imperative for the union to be a partner in assessing and making decisions on all aspects of the international player experience.
‘Any sort of expansion must be balanced against how it impacts players´ bodies along with health and safety data.’
