\n<\/p>\n
The NFL’s international growth has continued with Australia being confirmed as the sixth overseas country to be awarded a regular-season game.<\/b><\/p>\n
The league had carried out site visits to Melbourne and Sydney to explore the viability of playing in Australia.<\/p>\n
And the Melbourne Cricket Ground was selected to host the first game in the Asia-Pacific region during the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Rams will be the designated ‘home’ team for the first game of a multi-year commitment at the MCG, which has a capacity of about 100,000.<\/p>\n
“We want to grow our game in all parts of the world,” said NFL executive vice-president Peter O’Reilly.<\/p>\n
“International games are one of the most impactful elements of our global strategy.<\/p>\n
“We’ve seen that in recent years. The games really serve as a catalyst for growing the game at every level and year round.”<\/p>\n
The NFL has rapidly been expanding its global reach in recent years, playing its first game in South America this season, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.<\/p>\n
O’Reilly said the Melbourne game would “likely” be scheduled for week one of the 2026 season – like the Brazil game was – making it easier for teams to acclimatise.<\/p>\n
The Melbourne announcement was made in New Orleans during Super Bowl week,<\/a> with further news expected on next season’s international games. <\/p>\n So far five have been confirmed, with Madrid<\/a> and Berlin<\/a> set to host their first games in 2025, with three again being played in London.<\/p>\n NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had previously said the league were “shooting for” eight international games in 2025.<\/p>\n He “expects” to return to Brazil, while a first game in Ireland is “a possibility”,<\/a> and the NFL is in discussions over when it can return to Mexico following renovations to the Azteca Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n