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MCG Bidding To Host First NFL Game On Australian Soil

Written by MOS Editorial Team

Published on 21 May 2024

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Visit Victoria have entered initial discussions to potentially host an NFL game during the 2025/26 season, marking the first NFL Game to be played in Australia.

The LA Rams are being considered as the ‘home’ franchise for what would undoubtedly be a historic event in Australia’s sports capital. While both the Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles have started building a following in Australia, they will not be facing off in the 2025/26 season due to scheduling constraints within the NFL calendar. The Rams are emerging as the prime candidate to host the game given the close proximity of LA to Melbourne, with a direct flight connecting the two cities. With only 50 regular-season international NFL games played in history, with most in London followed by Toronto, Mexico City, Munich, and Frankfurt, the NFL is known to select the best stadiums for its international matches.

It remains uncertain whether other states in Australia will have the opportunity to bid for hosting rights for such a prestigious event.

Given that international cricket usually takes precedence at the MCG during December and January, it is likely that the NFL match would be scheduled for October 2025.

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