49ers and Rams Set for NFL Regular-Season Debut in Melbourne

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 8:35 p.m. ET.

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to play the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Week 1 matchup will kick off on Thursday at 8:35 p.m. ET (Friday morning in Melbourne) and will be broadcast on Netflix. The MCG, the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, has a capacity exceeding 100,000 fans.

According to ESPN, the Rams were designated as the home team after volunteering for the 8,000-mile trip. The league selected the 49ers as the opponent because they are Australia's most popular team by total fans. Between 2022 and 2025, the Australian NFL fanbase grew 54%, reaching 8.8 million people. To prepare for the 16-hour flight and international dateline crossing, the 49ers arrived in Melbourne seven days before kickoff to practice at AAMI Park, while the Rams arrived approximately 29 hours before the game to practice at Marvel Stadium.

Logistical preparations at the MCG included expanding locker rooms, installing coaching booths, and adding ribbon boards and field LEDs. The event features a halftime performance by the Jonas Brothers. While the Rams initially requested to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 following Patrick Mahomes' ACL injury, the league declined, eventually narrowing the opponent list to the 49ers, Cowboys, and Cardinals. The 49ers are also scheduled to play a second international game in 2026 in Mexico City.