Quick Answer: The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers played the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Australia today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with kickoff at 10:35 a.m. local time Friday, September 11 (8:35 p.m. ET Thursday, September 10). The Rams entered as designated home team and were favored by oddsmakers ahead of kickoff.
What Happened?
The NFC West rivals opened the 2026 NFL season at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue built for cricket that has never before hosted a regular-season NFL game. Both teams made the playoffs the prior season, adding extra stakes to the historic international opener.
Why Is This Trending?
Searches for “Rams,” player stat lookups for stars like Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, and general NFL search volume have spiked past a million as fans in the U.S. and Australia follow the league’s first game ever played on Australian soil.
Key Details
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia.
- Kickoff: 10:35 a.m. AEST Friday, September 11 (8:35 p.m. ET Thursday, September 10).
- Broadcast: Netflix.
- Rams entered as betting favorites ahead of kickoff.
- Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was ruled out for the trip.
- It is one of nine international NFL games scheduled for the 2026 season.
What This Means for Fans
The game marks a new milestone in the NFL’s international expansion strategy, following prior regular-season games in London, Mexico City, Munich, Madrid and Sao Paulo. For Australian fans, it’s a rare chance to see a marquee NFC West rivalry in person.
What We Know So Far
Confirmed: kickoff time, venue, broadcast details and pregame injury and betting notes. Not yet available at publication: the final score and full game recap, as the outcome had not been confirmed through official sources at the time of writing.
What Happens Next?
The Rams and 49ers are scheduled to meet again in Week 14 back in the United States. Full game recaps and stat breakdowns are expected shortly after the final whistle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the Rams-49ers game start?
10:35 a.m. local time in Melbourne on Friday, September 11 (8:35 p.m. ET Thursday, September 10).
Where was the game played?
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia — the NFL’s first regular-season game there.
Who was favored to win?
The Rams entered as betting favorites ahead of kickoff, according to pregame odds.
Will the two teams play again this season?
Yes, they have a scheduled rematch in Week 14 in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- The Rams and 49ers played the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia today.
- Kickoff was 10:35 a.m. local time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- The Rams entered as betting favorites; Aaron Donald was ruled out.
- The two teams meet again in Week 14 in the U.S.
