- In a massive win for Australia, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is reportedly set to host “up to three” NFL regular season matches starting in 2026.
- The first showdown will involve the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles — both franchises with Aussie marketing rights — which is slated for next October (after the AFL Grand Final).
- But this high-profile and multi-million-dollar development presents numerous practical issues.
According to The Herald Sun, the NFL is planning to touch down on Australian soil following an exploratory visit to the 100,000-capacity MCG by league officials last August to investigate the venue’s viability to stage a regular season game.
In a deal negotiated by Premier Jacinta Allen, Victoria will be the sole Australian state to host NFL matches with the first cab off the proverbial ranks being the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles; the latter of which prepares to avenge their 2023 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX, and features homegrown offensive tackle Jordan Mailata.
RELATED: How (And Where) To Watch Super Bowl LIX In Australia
“If these matches are in fact part of a regular season and not just friendly exhibition matches, it makes an enormous difference to the audience in the US that will watch,” said Felicia Mariani, CEO of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (via Fox Sports).
“There is no sport in the world that has the attraction and the audience as NFL does in the US.”
As several pundits and commentators alike have noted, this obviously represents a major coup for both Aussie NFL fans, Victorian tourism, and Australia as a whole. But the practical aspects simply cannot be ignored.
While this isn’t the first NFL game to take place outside of the United States, it’ll certainly be the furthest. Los Angeles to Melbourne is a 16-hour flight, whereas Philadelphia to Melbourne with a connection is almost a full 24 hours. The time difference between both American cities and Melbourne also ranges from 16-19 hours.
Not only may jet lag impact player performance on the way there, but given this packed Monday/Thursday regular season unlikely to be dishing out recovery byes and not an exhibition, it could very well impact player performance after they return stateside. Because lest we forget, this isn’t Brazil, Germany, or even London.
The opportunity to play in Australia seems like more and more of a poisoned chalice with greater playoff implications when you consider the scheduling disadvantage of giving up a home game.
There has been a well-documented disparity in success between teams that enjoy seven home games, eight away games, and one neutral site game to play in an international series versus teams that end up with eight home games, seven away games, and one neutral site game.
RELATED: The Rise Of Aussie Talent In The NFL
For the 18 regular season matches played outside the United States through 2015, 20 of the 21 designated franchises that sacrificed a home game failed to reach the playoffs that same year, while 11 of the 21 designated franchises who didn’t draw a short straw eventually reached the postseason.
In case you were wondering, the Eagles are on track to host the proposed Rams game in 2026, which will represent the second home game sacrifice in three seasons.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who previously stated the league plans to play at least eight regular season games internationally (Spain locked in for the first, Ireland earmarked as another potential host), is expected to provide more details in due course.
