Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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

LA Rams headline Australia’s first NFL game at MCG, 2026.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL just made it official—Melbourne’s getting its first regular-season game in 2026, with the Los Angeles Rams taking the lead. It’s happening at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This isn’t just any PR stunt. The NFL’s dead serious about expanding globally and Australia’s the next big market on their map.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear:
“Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth.”

TOUCHDOWN AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

In 2026 we’re officially coming to Melbourne.

Register your interest 👉 https://t.co/mHEV3ygdr2 pic.twitter.com/WNoq2oPJj3
— NFL Australia & NZ (@NFLAUNZ) February 5, 2025

The Victorian State Government is partnering with the NFL, and the Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan couldn’t stop raving about the opportunity:
“We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia… 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.”

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.

Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles dominate the NFL’s Australian market rights

Marketing rights in Australia? Locked down by the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. This initiative lets teams build their brand internationally—fan events, local partnerships, commercial deals, all of it.

G'Day, Melbourne! See ya in 2026.

🇦🇺 » https://t.co/fEF2UT26cC | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/tZLw4JrV1Q
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 5, 2025

The Rams owner E. Stanley Kroenke knows what’s up:
“Today is an exciting day for Rams fans across the world, especially in Australia… This is the next important step to continue to expand our reach globally.”

The Rams have been making moves in Australia for a while, growing their fan engagement and launching partnerships. With Melbourne now on the map, the Rams have a serious opportunity to go all-in on building their brand.

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.

Globally, the NFL has been on a mission to spread the game. They’ve played 55 regular-season games outside the U.S. in cities like London, Frankfurt, Munich, and Mexico City. Now, with the ability to schedule up to eight international games each season, the NFL’s hitting new territories fast.

For 2025, games are already confirmed for London, Berlin, and Madrid. The Melbourne game? One more stamp on the NFL’s world domination tour.

(Image: Imagn Images)

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Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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