NFL Announces 49ers-Rams Game in Australia for 2026

The National Football League announced Thursday that the San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in the first regular-season game ever played in Australia, set for next year at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The matchup, one of two annual divisional contests between the NFC West rivals, will take place in 2026 as part of the league's multiyear commitment to international expansion. The Rams, designated as the home team, hold marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand, which they secured in 2021. The game marks a significant milestone for the NFL Down Under, where the league has been building interest through flag football programs, academies and an office established in 2022. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, known locally as the MCG, boasts a capacity of about 100,000 spectators, offering a massive stage for the event in partnership with Visit Victoria and the Victorian state government.

League officials highlighted the choice of teams as a way to capitalize on the 49ers' popularity in the Australian market and the intensity of the longstanding rivalry. "The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know...