SAN FRANCISCO — The NFL has announced an exciting matchup: the San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Los Angeles Rams in the league’s inaugural regular-season game in Australia. This long-anticipated announcement had been teased since last year.
Details are still emerging regarding the specific day of the week when this clash will take place in Melbourne.
NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution, Hans Schroeder, indicated that the game is likely to occur on either Wednesday or Thursday evening of opening week. Timing the match early in Week 1 allows the 49ers and Rams to adjust for the challenging 16-hour flight and the 19-hour time shift from the U.S. Pacific time zone.
While previous years featured international NFL games on Friday nights, that option is off the table this year. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prevents the league from scheduling games past 6 p.m. ET from the second Friday in September through mid-December to avoid clashing with high school and college football events. The 2026 NFL season includes this restriction starting the second Friday of September, which falls earlier than in 2024 and 2025.
This limitation positions the 49ers and Rams uniquely in the middle of the week, raising further questions about the game’s logistics.
The NFL is also expected to hold a traditional opening game in the U.S., typically featuring the reigning Super Bowl champions raising their championship banner in a Thursday night broadcast on NBC. It remains unclear if this game will be held on Wednesday, September 9, with the Australia game following a day later, or if the league will kick off its season overseas for the first time. To air live in U.S. primetime, the game in Australia must occur late morning or midday the following day.
Scheduling decisions will also hinge on who will broadcast the Australia game. Peacock aired the Packers vs. Eagles game in Brazil in 2024, while YouTube showcased the Chiefs vs. Chargers as its first exclusive game last season.
Schroeder noted that the NFL began assessing the market for broadcast rights to the Australia game late last year. Currently, conversations are ongoing with potential partners as the league decides on this unique opportunity, alongside four additional games arising from its recent comprehensive deal with ESPN.
Looking ahead, the upcoming NFL schedule will include nine international games in 2029. This slate features a return to Mexico City in December and the first regular-season game in France, which will showcase the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys are set to play in Rio de Janeiro, expected to air in a Sunday afternoon slot.
Planning the annual NFL schedule has always been complex. This year’s arrangements could indeed prove to be even more challenging.
