NFL heads to Australia with multi-year Melbourne deal confirmed from 2026

• LA Rams confirmed to play as home team at MCG next year
• Scheduling could clash with opening week of AFL finals

The National Football League will stage a regular season game in Australia for the first time, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as part of a multi-year commitment to play in the Victorian capital from 2026.

Peter O'Reilly, head of NFL International, said the Los Angeles Rams will be the designated home team for the contest at the 172-year-old sporting coliseum during a press conference in New Orleans, where the Super Bowl takes place on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.