Updates

The NFL announced a multiyear commitment to play regular season games in Melbourne, Australia beginning in 2026 as the league continues to take international games to new markets around the world and grow the game through global partners, programs and initiatives.

The NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with the Los Angeles Rams as the designated team.

“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.” 

Australia is a significant global market for the NFL with a growing fan base of 6.6 million people across the country.

The Rams, alongside the Philadelphia Eagles, hold marketing rights in Australia as part of the league’s Global Markets Program — an initiative that awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities. Since being awarded those rights, the Rams have expanded their presence in Australia through partnerships and key player initiatives.

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

Fans can register to receive information on the 2026 NFL Melbourne game here: nfl.com/Melbourne

The NFL is committed to investing in the development of the game year-round across the continent and across the Asia-Pacific region. The NFL opened its Australia and New Zealand office in 2022 on Australia’s Gold Coast, established an NFL Flag football program in 2022 and officially launched the NFL Academy APAC in 2024.

NFL Flag — the NFL’s official program for non-contact football — is widespread across the continent. Flag football is played across all states in Australia, in more than 300 schools, with some of those teams competing in regional NFL Flag tournaments and in international NFL Flag tournaments in the U.S. In partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the league continues to showcase efforts to increase participation and inspire the next generation as flag football heads toward its debut on the 2028 LA Olympic Games program.

The recently opened NFL Academy on Australia’s Gold Coast is operated in partnership with A.B. Paterson College to service young athletes (12-18 years-old) across the Asia-Pacific region. The NFL Academy is a major global initiative by the NFL offering talented student athletes the opportunity to combine full-time education alongside intensive training in American football (tackle) — under the guidance of a world class coaching staff. The program is also central to continuing the growth of flag football in the region for men, women and young athletes.

In 1999, as part of the NFL’s American Bowl series of international preseason games, the league touched down on the continent with a game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers in Sydney.  The NFL Melbourne game is the first game to be announced for the 2026 season.

Fifty-five regular season NFL games have been played around the world throughout the league's history, with London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto all hosting games to date.

In 2025, the NFL has confirmed games in London, Berlin and Madrid as part of the international games slate to date.