Key Facts

• This is the NFL's first regular-season game in the Asia-Pacific region and about 10,000 miles from New York.
• The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.
• The MCG is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and considered Australia’s sports capital.
• Attendance is expected to be close to 100,000, nearing the NFL regular-season record.
• The NFL has been growing in Australia, with fan numbers nearly doubling since 2022 to 8.8 million.
• Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is growing fast in Australia and may become an Olympic sport in Brisbane 2032.
• Melbourne was chosen over Sydney and Perth due to its sports culture and logistics tested by earlier trips to Brazil.
• Nearly half of the tickets were sold to fans outside the local state or from overseas, indicating strong international interest.