The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Melbourne to face the Los Angeles Rams in a historic NFL regular-season matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, according to official franchise announcements. The Week 1 fixture marks the league’s first-ever regular-season game played in the Australian city, launching both teams’ campaigns on an international stage.
Melbourne Cricket Ground Prepares for NFL Kickoff
According to 49ers.com, the opening game of the 2026 season is officially scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:35 p.m. PT at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Because of the 17-hour time difference, the 49ers will actually take the field on Friday at 10:35 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). The contest will broadcast live on Thursday evening for viewers tuning in from the United States West Coast.
This fixture forms part of a broader opening slate for the league. The season gets underway the night prior on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5:20 p.m. PT, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host their own season opener, according to league scheduling data.
Global Expansion and Franchise Milestones
The journey to Melbourne represents a major step in the NFL’s ongoing international series expansion. For the San Francisco franchise, playing a regular-season game in Australia highlights the league’s strategy of bringing marquee matchups to new global audiences.
Ticketing and travel logistics for the historic trip have rolled out across several phases. Official hospitality packages became available starting Monday, April 6, followed by general public ticket sales through Ticketmaster on Tuesday, April 7, as outlined by team operational updates.
Travel Packages and Fan Access
Supporters looking to secure entry outside of standard public sales have utilized travel programs through On Location. Fans who registered a Priority Access deposit received direct inbox instructions regarding seat selection. Meanwhile, supporters without an initial deposit were given the opportunity to place an Access Guaranteed deposit via the official On Location platform to join secondary selection windows ahead of public sales.
Next Confirmed Checkpoint
With teams now settled in Australia, attention turns toward the official pre-game walkthroughs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ahead of the Thursday evening broadcast window in the United States and Friday morning local kickoff.
Worth a look
