The NFL is breaking new ground in Australia as the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams prepare to play a regular-season game at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). A sellout crowd is expected to fill the 100,000-capacity venue, marking the first time the NFL has staged a regular-season game in Australia. The Rams will be the nominal home team on Friday when they take on the 49ers in the second game of the new NFL season. Tickets for the highly anticipated matchup sold out within minutes, highlighting the league's growing popularity outside the United States and represents a major step in the league's international expansion.— OurSf49ers (@OurSf49ers) WHY IS THE NFL COMING TO AUSTRALIA?Australia has become an increasingly important overseas market for the NFL. The growing popularity of American football is also being fueled by flag football, a faster, five-a-side, non-contact version of the sport. Flag football is now played in 500 Australian schools, compared with just 10 in 2022, when a pilot program began. Its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and potentially the Brisbane Games four years later, could provide another major boost.HOW TO WATCH 49ERS VS RAMS GAME IN MELBOURNEThe 2026-27 NFL season’s first international game will feature divisional rivals San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne. The matchup is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at 8:35 PM ET and will stream live on Netflix.Date: September 10Time: 8:35 PM ETLocal Time: 10:35 AM AEST (Friday, September 11)Streaming: NetflixAUSTRALIA BECOMES NFL'S LATEST GLOBAL STAGEThe NFL already has a growing connection with Australia. Since 2024, the Gold Coast has hosted an NFL academy, while Australian players including Philadelphia Eagles star Jordan Mailata, Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson and Pittsburgh Steelers player Cameron Johnston have helped raise the sport's profile.For Melbourne, the NFL game also launches a remarkable run of major sporting events, with the city preparing to host the Australian Rules Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Australian Open golf, Boxing Day cricket Test, Australian Open tennis, Formula One and the 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England.The 49ers-Rams matchup is therefore more than a single NFL game. It represents a significant moment for American football in Australia and another major step in the league's expanding global footprint.