PHOENIX — The San Francisco 49ers will open the 2026 season with a Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10, at 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time. The game marks the NFL's first regular-season game played in Australia.

Because of the time difference, the game will take place on Friday, September 11, at 10:35 a.m. local time in Melbourne. The contest will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Los Angeles Rams designated as the home team.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed skepticism about the international assignment. "It's cool for the league to play globally. I think that's awesome. But as far as the team doing it, no, there's not much benefit to it," Shanahan said.

The 49ers will not have a bye week immediately following the Australia game. General manager John Lynch said the team expects to arrive in Australia five to seven days before the game, while the Rams are expected to fly to Melbourne much closer to game time.

"They may be going later, but we're trying to look into everything to make it as comfortable [as possible]. It's kind of like there's a price to being a high-profile team with a lot of stars. The league wants us on prime time," Lynch said.

Shanahan acknowledged the challenge of the long-distance travel. "That was our goal to go 19 hours away to play a game. We'll deal with it," he said.

The San Francisco vs. Los Angeles game in Melbourne is one of nine games on the league's 2026 international schedule. The 49ers are also scheduled to host an opponent in Mexico City in December 2026.

The 49ers will travel back to the Bay Area after the game in Melbourne, adding to the logistical challenges of the international assignment.