NFL in Australia: Why are the Los Angeles Rams playing the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne?
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Why is there an NFL game in Australia?
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: The Melbourne Cricket Ground is set to host around 100,000 fans for the NFL game.
By Ben Collins, BBC Sport journalist
Published 17 minutes ago
The NFL has organised regular-season games in seven international countries, but its upcoming trip to Australia represents a new milestone. This week’s event is the first NFL game in the Asia-Pacific region, marking a record-long journey of approximately 10,000 miles from their New York headquarters.
The Los Angeles Rams will ‘host’ the San Francisco 49ers at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which is capable of accommodating about 100,000 fans.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his enthusiasm during a visit to the MCG in April, describing the arena as a place that "speaks to you" and feels like "the right place to be."
American Football in Australia: Can it Succeed?
How many NFL fans are in Australia?
Live NFL games have been broadcast in Australia since 1995, and a pre-season exhibition game was held in Sydney in 1999. Local interest has significantly increased since 2022, when the NFL prioritized global growth and invested in new markets.
According to the league, the number of NFL fans in Australia has nearly doubled since 2022 to reach approximately 8.8 million, almost one-third of the country’s total population. This growth is partly attributed to the rise of flag football, a non-contact version of American football.
The NFL has played a crucial role in flag football’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028 and has expanded the sport from 10 schools to over 500 in Australia. They also aim to promote flag football’s inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Why was Melbourne selected?
Australia, being a sports-loving nation, was always on the NFL’s radar. After testing long-distance logistics with trips to Brazil in 2024 and 2025, the league felt prepared to venture down under.
While Sydney and Perth were also considered, Melbourne is regarded as Australia’s sports capital, and the MCG, the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, made it a top choice.
The deal was officially announced in February 2025, during Super Bowl week, and while some fans expressed concern about ticket prices, the event is expected to be a significant milestone for American football in Australia.
