In a surprising announcement on a major American television program, Australian wildlife expert Robert Irwin confirmed that the Los Angeles Rams will play against the San Francisco 49ers in the first regular season NFL game to be held in Australia. This significant matchup will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), marking a milestone for American football in Australia.
Irwin, known for his engaging personality, made the revelation while appearing on the Pat McAfee Show. He expressed his excitement, stating, “Mate, I would be honoured,” when asked about the event. He confirmed that while the Rams” participation was known, the identity of their opponent had not yet been disclosed until that moment.
He further teased the audience, saying, “Now we know that the Rams are playing, but what we don”t know is who their opponent will be. I can say, for the first time, they are going to be going up against – well we”re here in San Francisco – so it can only be the 49ers. Let”s go!”
The upcoming game is part of the NFL”s initiative to grow its international presence, with the league announcing a record nine international games across multiple continents this year. The Rams are one of four teams that hold marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand. This exciting matchup is expected to draw a crowd of over 90,000 fans, significantly enhancing the popularity of American football in the region.
Prior to this, Australia hosted an exhibition game in 1999, and a few college football matches have taken place, yet none have compared to the anticipated excitement of a regular season game. Charlotte Offord, the NFL”s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “As we continue our preparations for the NFL”s first-ever regular season game at the MCG in Melbourne, we are delighted that the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under.”
The Rams narrowly missed reaching this year”s Super Bowl after a challenging loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, while the 49ers remain one of the most followed teams globally. Stars such as Puka Nacua and Christian McCaffrey are expected to be key players in this landmark event.
Kevin Demoff, President of the Los Angeles Rams, also shared his excitement about the game, emphasizing the franchise”s commitment to engaging with the Melbourne community leading up to the event. “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 also across the world. We look forward to spending this off-season continuing to deepen our connection with the Melbourne community leading up to the game this fall,” he said.
This historic game not only highlights the growing popularity of the NFL but also sets the stage for future international matchups, with other cities such as London, Madrid, Mexico City, Munich, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro also slated to host games in 2026.
