NFL set to host multiple international matches in Melbourne over coming years

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NFL set to host multiple international matches in Melbourne over coming years

The NFL is set to host multiple international games in Australia with Melbourne reportedly given the nod.

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the Allan government has secured a multi-year deal after months of secret negotiations with the NFL.

The first in-season game will take place at the iconic MCG in October, 2026, which will be just weeks after the AFL grand final.

And there will then be more matches played at the venue over the coming seasons.

The Los Angeles Rams are set to be the ‘home’ team for the match and will likely square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who play Kansas City in next week’s Super Bowl.

*********** superstar Jordan Mailata is a key player for the Eagles and would be a huge drawcard.

Camera IconThe MCG could is set to host an NFL game just weeks after the 2026 AFL grand final. Credit: Getty Images

The NFL’s 2024 schedule featured three matches in London, one in Brazil and one in Germany as they continue to take the game to all parts of the world.

Next season’s fixture will see a game played at Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Spain for the first time.

The NFL has been expanding its international presence in recent years with owners voting in December, 2023, to authorise the league to host eight games internationally each season.

League officials confirmed they would scout Australia as a potential host when discussing future international opportunities last year.

“Australia is among a set, and it’s not a small set of markets, that we’re looking at,” NFL’s head of international affairs Peter O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly noted Australia has a strong NFL fan base, media partners and that both the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams have global market rights there.

League officials visited markets last year as part of the process assessing fan support, stadiums and locations for teams to use leading up to a game.

O’Reilly said those details are only part of what the league considers in picking a host city.

“When you start to talk about Asia, Pacific and Australia, you talk about distance and logistics and the football component of that,” O’Reilly said.

“So those factors are real.

“But our role is to really look at the globe, look at where the fan base is strong and do the diligence, make the evaluations.”

The NFL’s *********** presence has already increased, with an official academy opening last September on the Gold Coast.

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