The NFL is taking its international expansion to a new continent next season - and it’s doing it with a heavyweight matchup. The Rams will host the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Week 1 openers in recent memory.
Yes, Week 1.
That’s the timeline being floated as league sources continue to piece together the logistics of this unprecedented game. And while the NFL hasn’t officially locked in the date, signs are pointing toward a Sunday afternoon kickoff in the U.S., which would translate to Monday afternoon local time in Melbourne.
But here’s where things get tricky - and fascinating.
A transpacific flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Melbourne clocks in at about 16 hours. Coming back?
Around 14 and a half. Add in the 19-hour time difference, and suddenly you're looking at a serious scheduling challenge for both teams heading into Week 2.
Unless the league builds in a bye week for the Rams and 49ers immediately after, the turnaround would be brutal - even by NFL standards.
That’s why there’s growing logic behind the idea of starting the season a week earlier than usual - on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. It’s a move that would give both teams a two-week cushion before their next game, allowing for recovery, prep time, and a fairer competitive balance.
Right now, there’s only one major college football game scheduled for that Sunday - Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field - and that’s expected to be a night game. That leaves the afternoon window wide open for the NFL to slide in a marquee international showcase.
And let’s be honest - 49ers vs. Rams is no throwaway matchup.
This is a divisional rivalry with deep roots and high stakes. Pair that with the novelty of an Australian venue and the NFL’s push to grow its global footprint, and you’ve got a made-for-TV event that could test new waters for the league.
Speaking of TV - or more accurately, streaming - the NFL is reportedly in talks with streaming platforms to carry this and four other international games that recently reverted to league control after the NFL Network/ESPN merger. That opens the door for a new kind of broadcast strategy, one that could further shift how fans consume games, especially those played outside the U.S.
There’s also a broader play here. If the NFL eventually moves to an 18-game regular season - a change that feels more like a “when” than an “if” - the league would need to add a second bye week for each team.
That shift would likely push the regular season up a week, meaning Week 1 would land on Labor Day weekend. A Melbourne kickoff on September 6 could serve as a soft launch for that future calendar.
The league last opened its season on Labor Day weekend back in 2001. At the time, the thinking was that fans were too busy enjoying the final days of summer to tune in. But in 2026, with streaming options, mobile access, and global interest at an all-time high, that concern feels outdated.
Bottom line: the NFL is looking at Melbourne not just as a novelty, but as a proving ground. A global rivalry game, a potential schedule shift, a streaming experiment - it’s all on the table. And if the Rams and 49ers do kick off the season down under, don’t be surprised if it marks the beginning of a new era in how the league thinks about Week 1.