The National Football League in its constant push for growth and expansion across the globe, has secured Australia as its next destination, Afrosport reports.
The 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the first-ever NFL regular season game in Australia during the 2026 season.
TOUCHDOWN AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
In 2026 we’re officially coming to Melbourne.
Register your interest 👉 https://t.co/mHEV3ygdr2 pic.twitter.com/WNoq2oPJj3
— NFL Australia & NZ (@NFLAUNZ) February 5, 2025
The league body visited various grounds across Melbourne and Sydney, but the MCG has been chosen as the preferred choice in a history-making feat.
The first game of a multi-year partnership at the MCG will see two-time Super Bowl winners, the Los Angeles Rams, play as the ‘home’ 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,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
“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.”
G’Day, Melbourne! See ya in 2026.
🇦🇺 » https://t.co/fEF2UT26cC | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/tZLw4JrV1Q
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 5, 2025
The NFL continues to make strides outside the United States, having recently had its first game in South America, with the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Green Bay Packers at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, both Madrid and Berlin are scheduled to host their first regular season games in 2025, adding to the three games coming to London next season.
The announcement was made in New Orleans during Super Bowl week, and the Rams’ opponent, along with the game date and kickoff time, will be announced in due course.
