NFL play first-ever regular-season football game 2026 in Australia

Australia to get its first-ever NFL game in 2026 with LA Rams as the designated team to play in Melbourne






The National Football League (NFL) will play its first-ever regular-season football game in Australia in 2026, the league announced Wednesday.

The game will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The stadium is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and has a capacity of 100,024 (95,000 seats plus 5,000 standing room).

The NFL also revealed that the designated host team for the game in Melbourne, Australia, will be the Los Angeles Rams.

This isn’t just for show. The NFL already has roots down under. In 2022, they launched the NFL Flag football program and opened an office in Australia’s Gold Coast. And in 2024, they stepped it up with the NFL Academy APAC, giving student athletes (aged 12-18) top-tier football training and education.

The Rams’ opponent in 2026, along with game date and kickoff time, will be announced at a later date.

Beginning with the 2025 season, the NFL can schedule up to eight regular-season football games internationally.


The Miami Dolphins will host the NFL’s first regular-season game in Madrid, Spain, during the 2025 season, while the Indianapolis Colts will host the first-ever regular-season game in Berlin, Germany, in 2025.

Other teams with international games announced for 2025 include the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, who will each host opponents at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jacksonville Jaguars will also host their usual game at Wembley Stadium in London.


This isn’t Australia’s first taste of NFL football


NFL in Australia isn’t entirely new. Back in 1999, the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers faced off in Sydney during the American Bowl. That was preseason though—2026 will be the first regular-season game ever played on Australian soil.


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Which Stadium Will Host The NFL Melbourne Game?


The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, otherwise known as the MCG, will host the games each year, as part of a partnership between the NFL, the Victorian State Government and the ground itself. The MCG is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and the 11th biggest worldwide, with a capacity of 100,000.

Who Is The Designated Team For the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game?


The Los Angeles Rams have been chosen as the first designated team for an NFL Melbourne Game. The Rams hold marketing rights in the country, alongside the Philadelphia Eagles, as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program.


When Will The 2026 NFL Melbourne Game Take Place?


No set date, kickoff time has been confirmed for the inaugural game as of yet. Due to the 16 hour time difference between Melbourne and the American east coast, the traditional 1pm Sunday kick off time could become a 9pm ET Saturday kick off for one game.


What Channel Will The NFL Melbourne Game Be On?


The NFL is broadcast on NBC, Fox, ESPN and CBS as well as the NFL Network and Prime Video in the United States.

 However, the broadcaster for the Melbourne game has yet to be decided.


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