San Francisco 49ers play Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne for season opener

The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams open their 2026 NFL regular season on Thursday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. The league moved this divisional contest approximately 7,870 miles from the typical venue at SoFi Stadium to a site in Australia. Entering this game, 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy holds a 3-0 record in season openers, with previous wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks. The Rams offense enters the matchup with recent historical context, as the unit averaged 32.5 points against the San Francisco defense during their two meetings in 2025. This game carries early-season implications for the NFC West division standings as both teams start their campaigns abroad.

• 3:00 PMYahoo Sports — Week 1 numbers to know: History is on the 49ers’ side with Brock Purdy as the starter