Melbourne has scored the holy grail of American sport, with NFL regular season games heading to the MCG from 2026.
The Los Angeles Rams will become the first NFL team to play for competition points on Australian soil, with Premier Jacinta Allan announcing the multi-year deal alongside Visit Victoria Chair Andy Penn and board member Eddie McGuire.
The landmark agreement places Melbourne in a unique position globally, as the only city to host an international tennis grand slam, a Formula One race, and now NFL regular season games.
NFL in Melbourne
- First game: 2026
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Host team: Los Angeles Rams
- Registration: nfl.com/melbourne
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
With American football’s popularity surging in Australia – now boasting 6.6 million local supporters – the matches are expected to draw massive crowds to the MCG. The announcement comes as thousands of fans prepare to pack Melbourne live sites for Monday’s Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Premier Jacinta Allan celebrated the coup, stating: “Another touchdown for the sporting capital of Australia. Only Victoria can host an international grand slam, only Victoria can experience the Formula 1 Grand Prix, only Victoria can break records with the Boxing Day Test – and Victoria is now the only city in Australia to host the NFL. It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see American Football played in the best stadium in the world.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasised the strategic importance of the deal: “Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth. Together with the Victorian State Government, Visit Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and with the Los Angeles Rams in 2026, 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.”
Register for tickets and information about the second competing team at nfl.com/melbourne
