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Rams and 49ers prepare for season opener in Melbourne

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 10:06 AM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Rams and 49ers prepare for season opener in Melbourne

Summary

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams travel to Melbourne, Australia, for the NFL season opener scheduled for Friday. The 49ers arrived in Australia last Wednesday to adjust to the local environment and body clocks. Conversely, the Rams are scheduled to depart California on Tuesday, arriving roughly 24 hours before the game. Coach Sean McVay said the Rams prefer to maintain their standard routine as long as possible before traveling. This matchup is the furthest international contest in NFL history. The game represents one of a record nine international matchups on the league schedule this season as the NFL seeks to present its best product to global audiences.

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By the Numbers

•The 49ers and Rams play in Melbourne on Friday at 10:35 a.m. local time.
•San Francisco arrived in Australia nearly a week before the game for acclimation.
•Los Angeles intends to fly out Tuesday for a shorter turnaround before kickoff.
•The NFL is staging a record nine international games across four continents this season.

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What they're saying

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The Rams vs 49ers Australia game features a unique experiment, Mahomes vs Donald could be a close race and more NFL highlights from columnist Jarrett Bell.
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