The NFL opens its 2026 season on the other side of the world. On Thursday, September 10 (Friday morning in Australia), the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Australia. Below is everything you need for game day: the exact kickoff time in every US time zone plus Melbourne and New Zealand, how to watch on Netflix, the halftime show, venue details, and a free printable game-day sheet.
2026 NFL Melbourne Game: Quick Facts
- Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (NFC West, Week 1)
- Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026 in the US, Friday, September 11 in Australia
- Kickoff: 8:35 PM ET / 5:35 PM PT, which is 10:35 AM AEST Friday in Melbourne
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (the MCG), Melbourne, Australia
- Watch: Netflix, live and exclusive, included with any Netflix plan
- Halftime show: the Jonas Brothers
- Why it matters: the first NFL regular-season game ever staged in Australia
Kickoff Time in Every Time Zone
Because Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of the US East Coast, the game kicks off Thursday evening in America but Friday late-morning in Australia. Here is the exact local start time everywhere it matters.
| Time zone | Local day | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | Thursday, Sept 10 | 8:35 PM |
| Central (CT) | Thursday, Sept 10 | 7:35 PM |
| Mountain (MT) | Thursday, Sept 10 | 6:35 PM |
| Pacific (PT) | Thursday, Sept 10 | 5:35 PM |
| Melbourne (AEST) | Friday, Sept 11 | 10:35 AM |
| New Zealand (NZST) | Friday, Sept 11 | 12:35 PM |
How to Watch: Netflix
The Melbourne game streams live and exclusively on Netflix. There is no separate add-on or pay-per-view: it is included with every Netflix plan, so any active subscriber can watch. Open the Netflix app on a smart TV, phone, tablet, browser, or streaming stick and the game will be featured on the home screen at kickoff. If you are outside the US, Netflix carries the broadcast in Australia and most other markets as well.
Set a reminder for 8:35 PM ET Thursday. If you are following from Australia, that is 10:35 AM Friday, a rare NFL breakfast kickoff.
The Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
The MCG is one of the largest stadiums in the world, seating roughly 100,000 people. It is the spiritual home of Australian sport and has hosted Olympic ceremonies, cricket World Cups, and record Australian Football League crowds. For its NFL debut it becomes one of the biggest venues ever to stage a regular-season game, and a sellout crowd is expected for the historic first.
Halftime Show: The Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers headline the halftime show, giving the Melbourne game a concert-sized production to match the occasion. It is a marquee booking for a Week 1 international opener and a signal of how much the league is investing in the Australia debut.
Why This Game Matters
This is the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia, the newest frontier in the league’s international push that already includes London, Munich, Madrid, and Sao Paulo. It is also a division game: the 49ers and Rams are NFC West rivals, so the result counts fully in a race both teams expect to contest all season. Opening the year with a divisional matchup on another continent raises the stakes on a game that already carries historic weight.
Printable Game-Day Sheet
Print the free game-day sheet below. It has the kickoff times for every zone, the how-to-watch details, and space to jot your score prediction, so you can keep it by the TV or share it with your watch party.
More 2026 NFL from Sports Brackets
Planning the rest of Week 1 and the season? See our 2026 NFL International Games guide for every game abroad, and grab your team’s printable slate from our 2026 NFL printable schedules for all 32 teams.
NFL Melbourne Game FAQ
What time is the NFL Melbourne game?
Kickoff is 8:35 PM ET (5:35 PM PT) on Thursday, September 10, 2026. In Melbourne that is 10:35 AM AEST on Friday, September 11.
Who is playing in the NFL Melbourne game?
The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams, two NFC West rivals, in a Week 1 division game.
How can I watch the NFL Melbourne game?
It streams live and exclusively on Netflix, included with any Netflix plan, in the US, Australia, and most other markets.
Where is the NFL Melbourne game being played?
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the MCG, which seats roughly 100,000 and is one of the largest stadiums in the world. It is the first NFL regular-season game ever held in Australia.
