NFL is coming to Australia: Melbourne confirmed to host game in 2026

Melbourne will host Australia’s first-ever NFL regular season match in 2026 under a multi-year commitment officially announced.

The MCG will be none other than the host for the games, with the Los Angeles Rams confirmed the first of the two teams to head down under next year.

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It is yet to be confirmed when the game will be played and which team the Rams will face.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said bringing the game to Australia “underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth”.

“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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said, “We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is now the first-ever state in Australia to host a regular season NFL game”.

“It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see American football played at the iconic MCG,” she said.

Fifty-five regular season NFL games have been played internationally. Host cities to date include London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto.

The NFL can now schedule up to eight league-operated international regular season games per season.

In 2025, the NFL has confirmed games in London, Berlin and Madrid as part of the international fixture,

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