The NFL is packing its bags and heading Down Under.
For the first time ever, a regular-season NFL game will be played on Australian soil. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers-two NFC West rivals with plenty of history-are set to square off at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2026 season. It’s a landmark moment, not just for Aussie fans, but for the league’s growing global footprint.
The matchup was officially announced on Feb. 5, part of a broader international push from the NFL that’s taking the game to more corners of the world than ever before. This year, the league is going big-nine international games are on the calendar, the most in NFL history. That includes a long-awaited return to Mexico City, where the 49ers last played the Cardinals at Estadio Azteca back in 2022.
The Rams will be the designated home team for the Melbourne showdown, a detail that matters for logistical and strategic reasons. It also speaks to how committed Los Angeles is to expanding its brand internationally. And let’s be honest-there’s no shortage of intrigue when the Rams and Niners meet, no matter the time zone.
This isn’t the only first on the 2026 international slate. The New Orleans Saints are set to host the NFL’s inaugural regular-season game in Paris, France, at the Stade de France. That announcement came just weeks before the news out of Melbourne, signaling a clear trend: the league is going all-in on its global strategy.
So where else is the NFL headed in 2026?
We already know the league will be spreading the action across four continents, seven countries, and eight different stadiums. While not every matchup has been finalized, here’s what the international lineup looks like so far:
- Melbourne, Australia: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers at Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Paris, France: New Orleans Saints vs. TBD at Stade de France
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Teams TBD at Maracanã Stadium
- Madrid, Spain: Teams TBD at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
It’s a bold, ambitious schedule-one that reflects the NFL’s confidence in its product and its appeal beyond U.S. borders. And for fans around the world, it’s a rare chance to see the game played live, in their own backyard.
From Melbourne to Madrid, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one for the history books.