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49ers vs. Rams Kickoff in Australia: Key Matchup Details
Confirmed
In Short: The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in the first regular-season NFL game played in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in the first regular-season NFL game played in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kickoff is set for 8:35 p.m., marking a historic first for the league.
The Rams, who underwent a dramatic defensive makeover, will be led by Puka Nacua, who was not listed on the injury report and is expected to play his usual role. The Rams are still waiting for regular season statistical leaders to emerge, with Nacua standing out as a focal point.
Sean McVay, beginning his 10th season with the Rams, will face the 49ers. Aaron Donald, a future Hall of Famer, did not make the trip to Australia and was ruled out for Week 1, with McVay wanting to give him more time to ramp up after coming out of retirement.
The game will be a significant matchup, with the 49ers having lost to the Seahawks in the divisional round and the Seahawks then defeating the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams' defensive makeover and Nacua's availability will be key factors in the game.
Background
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a land area of 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world, and is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent.
What's confirmed
- The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet Thursday, Sept.
- 10, 2026, in a first for the league: a regular-season game at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, with kickoff set for 8:35 p.m.
- Seattle routed the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round, then beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game, one win short of Super Bowl LX.
- Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
- For Los Angeles, the clearest skill position name to watch is Puka Nacua because his availability changed the shape of this matchup.
- He was not listed on the Rams injury report released Tuesday after dealing with a core issue, and that points to him being expected to handle his usual role against San Francisco.
- With the Rams still waiting for regular season statistical leaders to emerge, Nacua stands out as a proven focal point whose health is one of the most relevant developments going into this opener.
What's still developing
- Stay connected with the 49ers by following along on each of the team's social media channels: Broadcast and streaming information for the San Francisco 49ers preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
- Broadcast and streaming information for the San Francisco 49ers Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
- Broadcast and streaming information for the San Francisco 49ers Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Levi's® Stadium.
- Abby Champion is used to running circles around a runway.
- Stream: Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2027 Runway Show Sept 10.
- “It’s been very chill this morning,” she revealed.
- “Throughout the year, you don’t see all the designers and the models and the stylists,” Champion explained.
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