The NFL has continued its international expansion by announcing plans for a first regular-season game in Australia.
Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the game in 2026 as part of a multi-year agreement between the NFL and the Victoria government.
The Los Angeles Rams will serve as the designated home team for next year’s game. The Rams, alongside the Philadelphia Eagles, hold marketing rights in Australia as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
The Rams’ opponent, along with the game data and kickoff time, will be announced at a later date. It has been reported that the game could be played in the late morning in Melbourne, making it more convenient for US TV audiences.
Today’s announcement comes after the NFL opened its Australia and New Zealand office in 2022 on the Gold Coast. The NFL has described Australia as a “significant global market” for the league and claims to have a fan base of 6.6 million people in the country.
Melbourne has a strong sporting heritage, and the city will be the first in the world to host an international tennis grand slam, a Formula 1 grand prix and NFL regular-season games. Sydney and Perth were also in the running to secure regular-season games, but the NFL ultimately selected Melbourne.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said: “Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth. Together with the Victorian State Government, Visit Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and with the Los Angeles Rams in 2026, we look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint.”
Stan Kroenke, owner and chairman of the Rams, added: “When we first identified Australia as one of our global markets, it was not only because of our passionate fans who reside there, but also because of the important role Los Angeles plays in serving as a gateway to Australia and many countries across the Pacific.
“Today is an exciting day for Rams fans across the world, especially in Australia, where our players and organisation have received an enthusiastic reception over the past few years when we have been in the market. This is the next important step for both the Rams and the broader Kroenke Sports & Entertainment family to continue to expand our reach globally, and we are thrilled to work with Commissioner Goodell and the league office to make history and bring the first NFL regular season game to Australia.”
Melbourne will become the latest overseas city to host a regular-season NFL game, joining London, Mexico City, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo and Toronto. The NFL has already announced games in Berlin and Madrid for the 2025 season.
The NFL is now able to schedule up to eight international regular-season games per year, and negotiations are said to be ongoing over a potential fixture in Dublin. The NFL is also expected to return to Brazil on the back of its landmark game in São Paulo in September.
