Friday, March 27, 2026: Melbourne will make sporting history in September, becoming the first city in the world to host an international tennis Grand Slam, a Formula One Grand Prix and an NFL Regular Season game.
The blockbuster season opener between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers will take place at the MCG on September 11, 2026, making it the first NFL Regular Season game played in Australia.
The game will kick off at approximately 10:35 AEST Melbourne time, and air live in primetime in the US at approximately 5:35 PM PST on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
More than 151,000 people have registered their interest in the game, with that number jumping by more than 50,000 since the 49ers were announced as the Rams’ opponents in a mouth-watering NFC West rivalry.
The game is also expected to draw thousands of American fans to the city for a week of football celebrations and exploring the best of Melbourne.
Pre-sale team fan tickets will go on sale in the US from 2:00pm PT next Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Hospitality packages will be available for purchase from Ticketmaster starting Monday, April 6 at 5:00pm PT and tickets for the general public will be available from 5:00 PM PT Tuesday, April 7 at ticketmaster.com.au/nfl.
On Location also has early access options ahead of the public on sale date Wednesday, April 1 at https://onlocationexp.com/nfl/nfl-australia-tickets
The game builds on Visit Victoria — the official tourism body for the state of Victoria, Australia, home to Melbourne —and its partnership with the NFL and the Los Angeles Rams, which is already reaping rewards in inviting US fans to visit Melbourne and Victoria. During the 2025 Regular Season, Visit Victoria invited Los Angeles Rams fans to rush down under during the team’s home games via various activations and launched a special invitation from Scott Hanson to experience highlights such Melbourne’s dining scene, the Phillip Island penguins and the state’s spectacular golf courses.
As one of Victoria’s most important markets, the United States accounted for 216,000 visitors in the year ending December 2025, with visitors staying a total of 2.4 million nights and spending $391 million.
September’s game adds to a huge calendar of major events this year, which also includes the world’s largest food festival the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on this month, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on until April 19, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: Cartier exhibition running from June 12-October 4, the AFL Grand Final at the MGC on September 26, and the Australian Open Golf December 3-6 featuring Rory McIlroy playing at Kingston Heath Golf Club.
For more information on the game and travel ideas for the week, go to www.visitmelbourne.com.
Quotes attributable to Los Angeles Rams Head of International Stephanie Cheng:
“We are thrilled to kick off our season in Melbourne, enhancing an already historic moment for both the NFL and the Rams. Every time members of our organization visit, including earlier this month, we see first-hand the growing excitement from folks across Melbourne in anticipation of this game. Not only will it be special playing the 49ers on a Friday morning in Australia, it also will be great for our fans back at home to be able to watch this match up in primetime on Thursday night.”
Quotes attributable to Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements:
“Hosting Australia’s first-ever NFL game will shine a global spotlight on Melbourne and Victoria. For American fans, it’s more than a game—it’s an invitation to experience our destination firsthand, from world-class dining and major events to the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife you won’t find anywhere else.”
“NFL fans are known for traveling big for their teams, and this is as big as it gets. We’re excited to welcome Rams and 49ers fans and beyond to experience not just the game, but everything that makes a trip to Victoria unforgettable.”
Quotes attributable to NFL General Manager Australia & New Zealand Charlotte Offord
“We are thrilled to be able to confirm the time and date for Australia’s first-ever regular-season NFL game at the MCG between the Rams and 49ers — a match-up that has created plenty of hype and excitement.”
“We know that there is already plenty of appetite for this game, both in Australia and internationally, and we’re looking forward to getting tickets on sale in the coming weeks for what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under.”
