The NFL season is heading Down Under.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will open their 2026 seasons with a historic NFC West showdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. The game will mark the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game played in Australia, adding even more excitement to an already important divisional matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at 5:35 p.m. PT and will stream exclusively on Netflix.
Both teams enter the season with legitimate playoff expectations, making this one of the most intriguing games of Week 1.
Rams Look To Make A Statement
The Rams enter the season with one of the most talented rosters in the NFC.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP-caliber 2025 season in which he threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. He will once again have star wide receiver Puka Nacua as one of his primary weapons.
Los Angeles also made a massive move on defense by acquiring Myles Garrett, giving the Rams another elite pass rusher to pair with an already talented defensive unit.
However, the Rams received disappointing news ahead of the opener. Aaron Donald will not travel to Australia and will miss the game as the team continues to carefully ramp him up following his return from retirement.
Garrett, however, is expected to play, giving the Rams a major defensive weapon even without Donald.
49ers Have Plenty Of Firepower
San Francisco enters the matchup with plenty of weapons of its own.
Brock Purdy will lead the offense, with Christian McCaffrey once again expected to be a major part of Kyle Shanahan’s attack.
The 49ers also added veteran wide receiver Mike Evans during the offseason. Evans brings another dangerous target to an offense that already features Deebo Samuel and a talented group of skill players.
One of the biggest questions surrounding San Francisco was the health of Nick Bosa. That question appears to have been answered, with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris confirming that Bosa will play after recovering from a torn ACL.
George Kittle is also working his way back from an Achilles injury, although his availability remains something to watch.
The Battle In The Trenches
This game could ultimately be decided in the trenches.
Without Donald, the Rams will need Garrett and the rest of their defensive line to generate pressure against Purdy. If Los Angeles can consistently disrupt San Francisco’s quarterback, it could force the 49ers into difficult third-down situations.
On the other side, Bosa’s return is a massive boost for San Francisco.
The Rams’ offensive line will have its hands full trying to keep Bosa away from Stafford. If Bosa can create pressure, the 49ers could make it difficult for Stafford to find Nacua and the rest of his receivers downfield.
Who Wins?
This should be a close game between two teams that know each other extremely well.
The Rams and 49ers split their two meetings last season, with San Francisco winning the first matchup in overtime before Los Angeles responded with a dominant 42-26 victory later in the year.
The unusual setting could also play a role. San Francisco arrived in Australia a week early to adjust to the time difference, while the Rams planned to arrive much closer to game day. The massive travel demands make preparation especially important.
Ultimately, Los Angeles has the advantage because of Stafford, Nacua and an extremely talented defense led by Garrett.
Expect a high scoring battle that could come down to the final possession.
The NFL’s first game in Australia has all the ingredients for an instant classic and the NFC West rivalry should make the historic night even better.
