NFL confirms Los Angeles Rams to play San Francisco 49ers at MCG
The San Francisco 49ers will be the team facing the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Australia next season, the league announced.
The NFL had declared last year that it will be playing a game in 2026 in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue that holds about 100,000 spectators.
The Rams were also announced last year as the home team for that game, part of a multi-year commitment to play in Melbourne.
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The NFL will play a record nine international games next season, including the league's first games in Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
"The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under," said Charlotte Offord, NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager.
The date and kick-off time will be announced later.
Matt Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams calls a play at the line of scrimmage. Getty
The Rams have had marketing rights in Australia since the NFL started its international marketing program in 2022.
"As we make history with the NFL and bring the first regular-season game to Australia, we are pleased to take our annual match-up against our NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers to the MCG," LA Rams president Kevin Demoff said.
"Since we first secured marketing rights to the country in 2021 and more recently since the announcement of this game last year, we have seen tremendous excitement for our team from fans both in Australia and also across the world."
The NFL has pushed to gain a stronger global presence for many years.
The Los Angeles Rams and the 49ers will head down under. Getty
Mexico hosted the first NFL regular-season match outside the US in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the 49ers.
Since then the NFL has taken a regular season games to England, Ireland, Germany, Brazil and Spain.
France is set to host a match in Paris later this year, with the New Orleans Saints as the designated home team.
