League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Match Previews

Rams and 49ers open the 2026 NFL season in Melbourne

4 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 10, 2026, 6:44 PM

Last updated Sep 10, 2026

Rams and 49ers open the 2026 NFL season in Melbourne

Summary

The Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today in the NFL's first game held in Australia. This Thursday Night Football matchup serves as the league's season opener with kickoff scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET. The Rams enter the contest following an active offseason that included the acquisition of Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald. The 49ers face a challenging start to their campaign while managing several injuries, including the return of George Kittle from an Achilles tear. Both teams arrived in Australia with vastly different preparation strategies, as the 49ers traveled nearly a week early while the Rams opted for a shorter stay. The game will be available to viewers via streaming on Netflix.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•The 2026 NFL season opener takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
•Kickoff for the Rams versus 49ers game is set for 8:35 p.m. ET.
•The 49ers arrived in Australia nearly a week before the game, while the Rams arrived Tuesday.
•George Kittle is active for the 49ers following his recovery from an Achilles injury.
•The game is available for streaming on Netflix.

Latest Updates

6:44 PMYahoo Sports — 3 key storylines heading into Rams' Week 1 matchup vs. 49ers
11:49 AMCBS NFL — Rams vs. 49ers: NFC West rivals go head to head in historic season opener in Australia
3:30 PMNFL News — Niners vs. Rams: Three must-know storylines for NFL's first-ever game in Australia - NFL.com

What they're saying

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NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman breaks down three must-know storylines in Thursday night's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
— NFL Newsby Jeremy Bergman