Rams will play the San Francisco 49ers in Australia next season
The Rams will face a familiar opponent next season in Australia.
The Rams, who last year were named the home team for the NFL’s first game in Australia, will face the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers, the league announced Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN. Australian actor and conservationist Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin of “Crocodile Hunter” fame, made the announcement.
The NFL has not announced a date for the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but it will almost certainly be in the first week due to the 19-hour time difference and the length of travel for both teams.
“As we make history with the NFL and host the first regular season game in Australia, we are pleased to bring our annual game against our NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers, to the MCG,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said in a statement. “Since we first secured the marketing rights for the country in 2021 and more recently since announcing this match last year, we have seen tremendous enthusiasm for our team from fans in Australia and around the world. We look forward to spending this offseason continuing to deepen our connections with the Melbourne community ahead of the match this fall.”
As part of the process for International Series games, the NFL allows designated home teams to protect two of its scheduled home games from being broadcast overseas.
While the 49ers game, which draws tens of thousands of 49ers fans each year, is being played in Australia, the Rams’ home opponents at SoFi Stadium next season will be the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Chargers.
As part of the NFL’s global markets program, the Rams have secured rights in Mexico, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates over the past decade.
The Rams are actively promoting their brand in Australia. Last June, after the Rams held a minicamp in Hawaii, defensive lineman Kobie Turner, offensive lineman Steve Avila and tight end Davis Allen traveled to Melbourne for a fan meeting.
Since returning to Los Angeles in 2016, the Rams have played four International Series games, all in London, including a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars last October.
In 2026, in addition to the match in Australia, the NFL has confirmed three matches in London and one each in Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid and Paris.
