Australia’s MCG to host annual NFL game from 2026

Australia has been chosen as the sixth foreign country to receive a regular-season game in the NFL’s ongoing expansion abroad.

The league had visited locations in Sydney and Melbourne to assess the viability of playing in Australia.

In the 2026 season, the Melbourne Cricket Ground was chosen to host the first game in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Los Angeles Rams will play the first game of a multi-year commitment at the MCG, which has a capacity of about 100,000.

One of the most significant components of our global strategy is “international games,” according to NFL executive vice-president Peter O’Reilly.

“We’ve seen that in recent years. The games really act as a springboard for expanding the game year-round and at every level.

The NFL has rapidly been expanding its global reach in recent years, playing its first game in South America this season, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

O’Reilly said the Melbourne game would “likely” be scheduled for week one of the 2026 season, making it easier for teams to adjust.

Super Bowl week in New Orleans was the site of the Melbourne announcement, and more details are anticipated for the following international games in the coming year.

Five games have already been confirmed, with three more scheduled for London and Madrid and Berlin to host their first games in 2025.

Roger Goodell, the NFL’s commissioner, had previously stated that the organization was “shooting for” eight international games in 2025.