NFL will hold first-ever game in Australia in 2026

The NFL said Wednesday that it would play its first game in Australia in 2026 as the league grows its international footprint.

NEW ORLEANS — The NFL said Wednesday that it would play its first game in Australia in 2026 as the league grows its international footprint.

The regular-season game will be held at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and feature the Los Angeles Rams as the designated home team in a matchup that will most likely be the season opener for both teams.

Australia is a major global market for the NFL, with a growing fan base of 6.6 million across the country, the league said.

“This is a significant step which underscores the global growth ambitions and the vision to take our game to more and more corners of the world,” Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president, said at a news conference. “We’re thrilled.”

O’Reilly said the game would kick off a multiyear commitment to play games in Melbourne, the self-styled capital of Australian sport.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nfl-will-hold-first-ever-game-australia-2026-rcna190947

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