The NFL is headed Down Under for its first regular season game in Melbourne, Australia in 2026 in what will be the first contest of a multiple-year agreement.
The Los Angeles Rams will play in the first NFL game in Australia next year with their opponent to be determined.
The game will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, also marking the first occasion an NFL regular-season game will take place inside a venue built for cricket.
‘Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth,’ said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell via news release.
‘Together with the Victorian State Government, Visit Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and with the Los Angeles Rams in 2026, we look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint.’
The opponent will likely not be another team from the NFC West, as the NFL rarely puts divisional games overseas. It was reported on Saturday in Australia that the Eagles would be the Rams’ opponent.
The NFL is headed Down Under for its first regular season game in Melbourne, Australia
The Rams will play in the Australian NFL regular season game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
‘We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is now the first-ever state in Australia to host a regular season NFL game,’ said Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan via news release.
‘It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see American football played at the iconic MCG.’
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The Rams and Eagles are the likely participants due to the teams holding the marketing rights in Australia for the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
‘When we first identified Australia as one of our global markets, it was not only because of our passionate fans who reside there, but also because of the important role Los Angeles plays in serving as a gateway to Australia and many countries across the Pacific,’ said Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke via news release.
‘Today is an exciting day for Rams fans across the world, especially in Australia, where our players and organization have received an enthusiastic reception over the past few years when we have been in market.’
‘This is the next important step for both the Rams and the broader Kroenke Sports & Entertainment family to continue to expand our reach globally, and we are thrilled to work with Commissioner [Roger] Goodell and the league office to make history and bring the first NFL regular season game to Australia.’
