Story perspectives

49ers vs. Rams Marks NFL’s First Australia Regular-Season Game

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

The NFL is staging its first regular-season game in Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams on Friday, September 11 at 10:35 am AEST.
The Jonas Brothers will headline the halftime show.
Commissioner Roger Goodell pledged a flag-football kit for every Australian school, with first kits arriving in Queensland.
The Victorian government is paying over $10 million in hosting fees, with tickets ranging $616–$935.

History

Historical Context

The NFL’s International Series began on Oct 28 2007 when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins at Wembley, selling out 40,000 tickets in 90 minutes. After NFL Europe folded that year, the league expanded to new markets, scheduling its first Australian regular-season game for 2026 at Melbourne Cricket Ground with the Los Angeles Rams as host. The move continues the league’s overseas growth strategy.

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Story summary

The NFL is staging its first regular-season game in Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams on Friday, September 11 at 10:35 am AEST.
The Jonas Brothers will headline the halftime show.
Commissioner Roger Goodell pledged a flag-football kit for every Australian school, with first kits arriving in Queensland.
The Victorian government is paying over $10 million in hosting fees, with tickets ranging $616–$935.

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