- Melbourne Game will be first ever NFL regular season game in Australia
- Los Angeles Rams announced as designated team for 2026 game
- Multiyear deal will see games played at Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Game is set to become the latest overseas fixture on the NFL regular season calendar, with the league announcing a multiyear partnership with the Australian city, yesterday (February 5).
Partnering with the Victorian State Government and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) , the NFL will head to the Southern Hemisphere for regular season action for the first time, in 2026.
The LA Rams have been announced as a designated team for the inaugural game at the MCG. The NFL has longstanding ties in the UK, hosting games in London for over 15 years, now. This season has seen the first regular season game in Brazil, with teams also venturing to Germany, while the 2025 campaign will see Madrid welcomed as the latest international city to play host to NFL franchises.
“Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “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.”
“We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is now the first-ever state in Australia to host a regular season NFL game,” said Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan. “It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see American football played at the iconic MCG.”
“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,” said Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman Stan Kroenke. “Today is an exciting day for Rams fans across the world, especially in Australia, where our players and organization have received an enthusiastic reception over the past few years when we have been in 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.”
G’Day from Down Under. 🇦🇺
— NFL Australia & NZ (@NFLAUNZ) February 6, 2025
Express your interest ahead of the 2026 @NFL Melbourne Game ➡️ https://t.co/mHEV3yfFBu pic.twitter.com/ds2RXRFdep
Australia has been identified as a major hotbed for overseas NFL fans, with some 6.6 million residents following the game. The Rams also hold marketing rights in the country, alongside the Philadelphia Eagles, as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. This initiative awards NFL teams international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the United States through events and commercial opportunities.
The game date, kick off time and Rams’ opponent for the Melbourne Game has yet to be announced. The announcement was made in New Orleans, which will play host to this weekend’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.It will be the first Super Bowl to be attended by a sitting President of the United States, with the White House confirming this week that Donald Trump will be in attendance at the Caesars Superdome, on Sunday.
