Sports
NFL plays its first regular-season game in Australia as Rams meet 49ers in Melbourne
September 10, 2026 at 08:27 AM · Updated 36d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 19 hours
ESESPN
'We did not select the 49ers at all': The true story behind 49ers-Rams debuting in Melbourne
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
NFL in Australia: Why are Los Angeles Rams playing San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne?
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Australians love sport - but can the NFL win them over in debut Melbourne match?
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Circus or spectacular? Either way, NFL’s exercise in cultural exchange has gripped Melbourne | Jack Snape
(opens the publisher’s site)The Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
- The game kicks off Friday morning local time before about 100,000 fans and is broadcast live on Netflix across more than 200 countries.
- Victoria's state government is reportedly paying up to A$15m to host the game, and tickets sold out within minutes when they went on sale in April 2026.
- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is in Australia to accelerate fan growth and expand into Asia.
- The NFL has committed to playing another game in Melbourne within the next three years.
Latest developments
- Sep 10 — The game kicks off at 10.35am local time to suit US prime-time television.
- Sep 10 — The NFL has nine overseas fixtures scheduled this season as part of its international expansion.
- Sep 10 — The 49ers arrived early to acclimatise, while the Rams plan a quick fly-in-fly-out trip, drawing criticism.
- Sep 10 — Rams team president Kevin Demoff denied claims the 49ers were chosen to limit San Francisco fan presence in Melbourne.
- Sep 10 — 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan expressed skepticism about the long-distance travel required for the Melbourne fixture.
- Sep 10 — The Rams volunteered to host the game, with NFL officials citing a 54 percent increase in Australian fan interest since 2022.