The NFL recently announced that the first-ever regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, will feature the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
While many anticipated the international matchup would occur at the start of the 2026 season, the league has not officially confirmed the date. However, John Ourand of Puck recently reported that the 49ers-Rams showdown will be played in Week 1 (h/t to Pro Football Talk).
"Ourand made the disclosure in connection with his reporting that the NFL 'has been taking meetings with streamers' regarding the rights to broadcast that game, along with four other international games that have reverted to the NFL as part of the recently-completed NFL Network/ESPN merger," Mike Florio wrote.
Travel concerns for 49ers and Rams
One complication is that the game is expected to be played on a Sunday afternoon, U.S. time, which poses significant travel challenges. The flight from the West Coast to Melbourne takes approximately 16 hours, with a return trip of roughly 14.5 hours.
That itinerary would create a tight turnaround for both teams as they prepare for Week 2.
"Australia is pretty far," 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said recently. "I'd love to see how the schedule would work. Transparently, that might be a little too far."
Could the NFL adjust the schedule?
Florio suggested a potential solution: schedule the game on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, ahead of the rest of the NFL slate.
"That would give both teams ample time to travel home and get ready for Week 2, which for them would be two weeks later," Florio wrote.
Such a move could also serve as a trial run for a potential 18-game NFL season, which would likely require two bye weeks per team to accommodate the additional games and allow for recovery.
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