Nick WagonerFeb 5, 2026, 02:02 PM ET
- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The 49ers will be the Los Angeles Rams' opponent for the first NFL regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, during the 2026 season.
The announcement was made Thursday by Australia Zoo's Robert Irwin on "The Pat McAfee Show."
The Rams were announced as the host team last February, but their opponent wasn't revealed until Thursday. The date and time are still to be determined, but the NFC West division rivals will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The game, which is being played in partnership with the Victorian State Government and Visit Victoria, is part of what will be an NFL-record nine international games scheduled for 2026.
"We are delighted that the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams," Charlotte Offord, the NFL Australia and New Zealand general manager, said in a statement. "The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible experience for our fans down under."
The Rams will serve as the home team for the game as they hold international marketing rights in Australia along with the Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.
"Since we first secured marketing rights to the country in 2021 and more recently since the announcement of this game last year, we have seen tremendous excitement for our team from fans both in Australia and across the world," Rams president Kevin Demoff said. "We look forward to spending this offseason continuing to deepen our connection with the Melbourne community leading up to the game this fall."
The 49ers, meanwhile, could be in line to play not just one, but two, international games in 2026. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Monday that the league is returning to Mexico City in December.
That's one of the places the Niners hold international marketing rights, and they have not played there since the 2022 season, which was also the last game played in Mexico City. The game in 2026 will be played at newly renovated Estadio Banorte with the teams to be announced later.
San Francisco owner Jed York told Imagen Sports this week the Niners would "most likely" give up a home game this season to play an international game and that Mexico is "always No. 1 on my list."
For now, they're locked to head south to play the Rams in Australia.
"This is a terrific opportunity to continue to support the league in its mission to grow the game of football," 49ers CEO Al Guido said. "We look forward to working with the NFL to benefit local Australian communities through sport."
In addition to Australia and Mexico City, the NFL is also slated to have a game in Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich and Madrid along with three games in London in the 2026 season.
The teams playing, dates and times of the other games will be announced later this spring. The New Orleans Saints, however, were already announced as the host team for the game in Paris.
