The National Football League (NFL) is heading to Australia. According to a company release, the NFL has announced a multiyear commitment for regular season games to take place in Melbourne, starting in 2026.
The move is part of a larger expansion to more international games, with the first Australian match to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Los Angeles Rams as the designated team.
Speaking of the move, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that “we look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint”.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan indicated that “We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is now the first-ever state in Australia to host a regular season NFL game”.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Rams Owner and Chairman E. Stanely Kroenke stated that “This is the next important step for both the Rams and the broader Kroenke Sports & Entertainment family to continue to expand our reach globally, and we are thrilled to work with Commissioner Goodell and the league office to make history and bring the first NFL regular season game to Australia.”
According to the NFL, Australia currently boasts a growing fan base of 6.6 million across the country, while the Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles hold marketing rights in the country as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
