All About NFL Melbourne: Kickoff Time, How to Watch, and More

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - American football is coming to the Land Down Under, as Melbourne gears up to host Australia’s first-ever NFL regular-season game. On Friday, September 11, 2026, the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams at the MCG for an epic showdown, as part of the NFL’s bid to develop year-round games across the continent and Asia Pacific. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the thriller, citing TimeOut, ESPN, and more.

When and where will the NFL Melbourne game be held?

The NFL game in Melbourne will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, September 11, 2026.

Kick-off is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. local time (or Thursday, September 10, at 8:35 p.m. ET in the United States). For Indonesian fans, this translates to Friday, 7:35 a.m. Jakarta time. 

Meanwhile, MCG will open its gates from 7:00 a.m., giving plenty of time for fans to gather themselves and soak up the atmosphere before the all-NFC West showdown.

As per the NFL tradition, expect a halftime show during the NFL game in Melbourne. Depending on how the first half plays out, the show will likely kick off sometime around midday.

Why MCG is a significant venue

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, locally known as “the G,” is the beating heart of Melbourne’s sporting grounds. According to ESPN, the MCG could pack more than 100,000 screaming fans, with official capacity listed at 100,024—after a recent revamp on the northern side of the stadium.

The MCG is home to two Australian cricket teams: the Victorian Bushrangers and the Melbourne Stars. Ever since it was built in 1853, the stadium has been hosting various sports games, including Australia’s biggest showdown, the AFL Grand Final. Four AFL teams also play regular home matches at the MCG, namely Melbourne Richmond, Collingwood, and Hawthorn. It is also home to the country’s biggest multi-sports tourist destination, the National Sports Museum.

Next Friday, “the G” will host two American football teams for the first-ever game in the NFL International Series.

Which teams are playing at NFL Melbourne?

Two teams based on the American West Coast, the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, will face off for the highly anticipated NFL Melbourne game. The Rams are confirmed as the “home” team, TimeOut reported, meaning they will be “hosting” the 49ers at the MCG. 

Earlier this month, the Rams confirmed that the team will be “flying in and flying out” of Melbourne for the game, spending just 48 hours in the city as opposed to the 49ers, who will spend more time in Australia.   

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the NFL's most illustrious franchises, and they share an intense rivalry with the Rams. The 49ers have won the Super Bowl five times: 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1995. While down three championships, the Rams can’t be overlooked, as they have clinched the Super Bowl twice, during the 2000 and 2022 editions. 

According to ESPN, both teams are led by several star players. For the Rams, they are led by Matthew Stafford as quarterback, with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as wide receivers on the offense side. Meanwhile, the 49ers will deploy Brock Purdy at QB, with Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle on the offense.

How's the weather looking for the NFL Melbourne game?

MCG will be expecting clear skies with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees Celsius on Friday, with “near windless” conditions that promise a dry playing surface and a free-flowing game, according to Weatherzone Australia. This makes for “unusual” clam conditions in a city famous for volatile weather, the forecast website noted.

How to watch the NFL Melbourne game

For Australians, the game will be livestreamed on Fox Sports/Kayo or free-to-air on Channel Seven or 7Plus, with coverage starting from 10:00 a.m. local time, according to ABC.

ESPN, meanwhile, will be broadcasting the Melbourne game live through Kayo, Foxtel, and Disney+.

The NFL Melbourne will also be broadcast on Netflix, with pregame coverage kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET, or 8:30 a.m. AEST. To watch the game, one must already have an active Netflix subscription of all tiers. Once signed in, select the NFL Melbourne Game stream to start watching, or set a reminder for the match here.

If you’re planning to join thousands at the MCG, fret not: the Victorian government will facilitate fans’ mobility with additional train and tram services during the big day. 

Are tickets still available?

For those who wish to be present at the MCG for the Rams and the 49ers showdown, tickets are still available through the official ticketing partner Ticketmaster Australia, both for the general admission and hospitality options.

General admission tickets are limited to six tickets per transaction, while the pricier hospitality packages—with food and drinks included—are capped at ten tickets per transaction. 

Ticket prices vary depending on the seating and packages, so TimeOut advises checking for the availability yourself at https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/nfl.

NFL Melbourne halftime show

The halftime show will be headlined by the Jonas Brothers, with a medley performance. To catch the historic halftime entertainment, you can watch the stream on Netflix or head over to the nearest Melbourne pubs and sports bars. You can also pop by Melbourne Park and Fed Square to join other sports fans for a watch party.

Join the NFL Kickoff Festival

The NFL Melbourne is a three-day event, as the city is coming alive with the NFL Kickoff Festival at Melbourne Park, presented by American Express. Starting from Thursday, September 10, to Saturday, September 12, the festival will bring fans closer to the game with interactive NFL experiences, Flag Football, live entertainment, watch parties, retail pop-ups, an American food village, player and legend appearances, and more. 

According to the NFL website, Grounds Passes are priced from $49 for Thursday and Saturday sessions and $59 for Friday, with children aged 13 and under admitted free when redeemed with an accompanying adult ticket. 

Why is the NFL game played in Australia?

The international series is part of the NFL’s bid to “spread the gospel” and the global presence of American football. Heading into the 2026 season, 62 regular-season games have been played outside the US, according to ABC. 

Melbourne joins Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, London in the UK, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, Germany’s Munich, and Mexico City to host the NFL’s 2026 International Series games. 

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