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49ers Schedule First Regular-Season Game in Melbourne49ers Schedule First Regular-Season Game in Melbourne

5/19/2026

Summary

49ers Play Abroad

The San Francisco 49ers will play a regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10, 2026 at 5:35 p.m. PT.
Invasions in Seattle (Oct. 10), Atlanta (Oct. 24), and Dallas (Nov. 14) each precede regular-season games the following day, all scheduled at 1:25 p.m. PT.
A New York Invasion on Dec. 5 precedes the Week 13 contest at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 6, where the 49ers aim for a third-consecutive win.

Summary

NFL Christmas

The NFL’s 2026 Christmas Day tripleheader opens with the Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks on Dec 25, 2026, on FOX after two Netflix games.
The holiday slate starts Dec 24 with the Houston Texans at the Philadelphia Eagles, reflecting the league’s push to grow Christmas viewership.
Five franchises—Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets—receive no primetime slots in 2026, highlighting the NFL’s marketability focus.

Summary

Wagoner predicts 49ers

Nick Wagoner predicts the 49ers could start 3-0 despite an opening-day trip to Australia.
Eric Williams predicts the Los Angeles Rams, who will travel 35,487 miles—the second-most this season—could miss the playoffs while rely on veteran cores and the 49ers added 13-year veteran receiver Mike Evans.
Mike Vrabel plans to expand DeMario Douglas’ role while rookie Caleb Lomu joins the Patriots, projected to have the league’s No. 1 run defense in 2026.

History

Historical Context

After NFL owners approved up to two regular-season games abroad in October 2006, the league launched the International Series on Oct 28 2007 with the New York Giants hosting the Miami Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium. The series, extended through 2025, now drives the 2026 schedule, sending the San Francisco 49ers to Melbourne and staging a Christmas-Day tripleheader, cementing the league’s global expansion.

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49ers Play Abroad

The San Francisco 49ers will play a regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10, 2026 at 5:35 p.m. PT.
Invasions in Seattle (Oct. 10), Atlanta (Oct. 24), and Dallas (Nov. 14) each precede regular-season games the following day, all scheduled at 1:25 p.m. PT.
A New York Invasion on Dec. 5 precedes the Week 13 contest at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 6, where the 49ers aim for a third-consecutive win.

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