49ers vs. Rams in Australia, Week 1: kickoff time, key players, venue details, and how to watch

The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host what promises to be a titanic division rivalry between two NFC West juggernauts, both of whom made the playoffs last season.

It's one of nine international games on the 2026 NFL calendar, spread across four continents and eight stadiums.

Here's everything you need to know about the 49ers vs. Rams, including the key players, kickoff time, and how to watch live on DAZN.

When is the 49ers vs. Rams game?

• Kick-off US (ET): 8.35pm, Thursday, September 10
• Kick-off US (PT): 5.35pm, Thursday, September 10
• Kick-off UK (BST): 1.35am, Friday, September 11
• Kick-off Australia (AEST): 10.35am, Friday, September 11
• Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia

How to watch 49ers vs. Rams

The game will be streaming live on DAZN for NFL Game Pass subscribers in all regions except the US and China.

49ers vs. Rams: Players to watch in Melbourne

This is a game bursting with star power, both on the field and on the sidelines.

Rams names to know

Los Angeles' Sean McVay, who became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl aged 36, is regarded as one of the best in the business.

His team is led by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP, who threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns last season.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua is Stafford's most dangerous weapon in the passing game, finishing second in the league with 1,715 receiving yards last season.

Across from Nacua, veteran Davante Adams still poses a real threat in the red zone after leading the league with 14 receiving touchdowns in 2025.

Kyren Williams leads the run game, occasionally spelled by Blake Corum, providing the Rams with a ground game that ranked among the most productive last year.

Defensively, Los Angeles is loaded, with last year's Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett arriving in the offseason and now joined by Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement.

And with Byron Young and Trent McDuffie also starring, McVay's defense is as good as it gets.

49ers names to know

On the other side, head coach Kyle Shanahan always has the 49ers in contention. He's taken San Francisco to the postseason in five of his nine years in charge.

His quarterback, Brock Purdy, continues to defy his Mr Irrelevant label - a moniker 'earned' after being the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Purdy boasts an array of weapons in the passing game, with George Kittle, one of the most dynamic do-it-all tight ends in the game, and two new arrivals at wideout, veteran Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling.

Evans, after leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, will be playing for a new team, eager to continue his sensational career after tying legendary Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's record of 11-straight 1,000-yard seasons in 2024.

At running back, San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey remains one of the most dynamic dual-threats in football, capable of punishing opponents as both a runner and receiver.

And on defense, the 49ers boast an array of talented veterans, with Nick Bosa and Fred Warner the headliners.

49ers vs. Rams injury news

49ers

Nick Bosa (knee) is playing Thursday, with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris saying plainly, "He's going. We're not hiding that."

George Kittle (Achilles) has been a full participant in practice in Melbourne, though offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak wants to see him through the final two sessions before confirming his workload.

Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not appear on the 49ers' first injury report of the week, pointing to no concerns.

Mike Evans (groin) was also absent from the injury report after returning to full practice, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Evans is planning to play.

Rams

Puka Nacua (core) did not appear on the Rams' first injury report, and McVay said Sunday he expects him to be available.

Myles Garrett (knee) remains on the injury list, and while ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that he is expected to play, the Rams haven't officially confirmed it.

What you need to know about the MCG

Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos / Stringer

The MCG is no stranger to big occasions, regularly drawing crowds of 100,000 for the annual cricket Boxing Day Test and the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final.

Known to locals as "the G," the MCG has a capacity of 100,024 and sits at the heart of the Yarra Park city precinct.

Built in 1853, the MCG is the home of AFL and has hosted the 1956 Olympic Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and multiple cricket World Cup finals.

49ers vs. Rams rivalry

These two teams know each other very well. NFC West division rivals, they meet twice every regular season, and there's rarely a dull game between them.

San Francisco has a 79-72-3 edge in the all-time meetings, but the Rams have had the advantage in recent meetings, winning four of the last five contests between the two.

Last season, the teams shared the spoils, with the 49ers taking their Week 5 game 26-23 in overtime, before the Rams exacted revenge in Week 10 with a 42-26 victory.

Ezra Shaw / Staff

The 12-5 Rams defeated the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round and beat the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round before succumbing to the Seattle Seahawks, the eventual Super Bowl champions, in a tight 31-27 Conference Championship showdown.

The 12-5 49ers overcame the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card, before losing to the Seahawks in a lopsided 41-6 contest in the Divisional Round.

Excitement is building for Rams vs. 49ers

The Rams hold international marketing rights in Australia alongside the Seahawks, Raiders, and Eagles, which makes Melbourne about as close to a home game as LA can get outside of SoFi Stadium.

"We can't wait to welcome these two great teams to Melbourne and showcase the best of our city and our state," said Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan.

NFL Australia and New Zealand GM Charlotte Offord says the matchup is exactly what Australian fans have been waiting for.

"The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible experience for our fans down under," she said.

Rams president Kevin Demoff says excitement has been building since LA secured marketing rights in Australia in 2021.

"We have seen tremendous excitement for our team from fans both in Australia and also across the world," he said.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, said, "This event will shine an international spotlight on Melbourne, bringing even more visitors from across the globe."

Other 2026 NFL international games

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Ravens vs. Cowboys on Sunday, September 27
• London, UK: Colts vs. Commanders on Sunday, October 4
• London, UK: Eagles vs. Jaguars on Sunday, October 11
• London, UK: Texans vs. Jaguars on Sunday, October 18
• Paris, France: Steelers vs. Saints on Sunday, October 25
• Madrid, Spain: Bengals vs. Falcons on Sunday, November 8
• Munich, Germany: Patriots vs. Lions on Sunday, November 15
• Mexico City, Mexico: Vikings vs. 49ers on Sunday, November 22

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