Rams Join 49ers in Melbourne Ahead of Australia's First NFL Game
The matchup sold out months ago, and about 100,000 fans are expected as the NFL stages its first regular-season game in Australia.
- On September 11, 2026, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia.
- Teams adopted contrasting travel strategies for the roughly 16-hour journey; the 49ers arrived a week early to acclimate to the time zone, while the Rams flew in roughly 28 hours before kickoff.
- More than 100,000 fans packed the sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground for the match, which is the first of three games over four years under a contract between the NFL and the state of Victoria.
- Following the defeat, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters he hopes his team does not play in Australia "ever again," though he clarified the sentiment was unrelated to the "great atmosphere."
- International expansion remains a league priority; officials view the Melbourne game as a successful test case for future growth into Asian and Middle Eastern markets seeking long-term commitment.
126 Articles
126 Articles
Sean McVay torches Rams-Australia partnership with one press conference quote
One of the more peculiar elements of the NFL’s quest for world domination is their colonial era designations of foreign markets for specific teams. The league’s first game in Australia was meant as a showcase for the Los Angeles Rams, who spent years building up a following there. The Rams are one of four teams…
Which is why NFL coach Sean McVay from the Los Angeles Rams upsets the Australians, and which expression could prove to be a boomerang.
Sean McVay: 'We're not playing in Australia ever again'
In the lead-up to last week’s season-opening game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, a lot was made of the Rams’ decision to arrive in Australia just one day before the game. That didn’t seem to work out well for the Rams, and it sounds like head coach…
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