Rams Join 49ers in Melbourne Ahead of Australia's First NFL Game
The 49ers arrived a week early to adjust to jet lag and won 27-7 as the NFL opened its first regular-season game in Australia.
- The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Friday, September 11, 2026, in the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, drawing nearly 100,000 fans.
- While the 49ers arrived a week early to acclimate to the 17-hour time difference, the Rams flew in roughly 28 hours before kickoff, aiming to maintain California time and optimize game readiness.
- Critics accused the Rams of snubbing fans with their late arrival, though Head of International Stephanie Cheng defended the organization, citing flag football clinics and membership programs established over four years.
- Following the defeat, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters he hopes the team does not have to play in Australia "ever again," clarifying the sentiment was unrelated to the "great atmosphere."
- Friday's contest marks the first of three scheduled Melbourne games over four years under a contract with the State of Victoria, with the matchup broadcast to a global audience exceeding 300 million viewers.
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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