The NFL's trip to Melbourne is only the beginning
The NFL will open its 2026 season with a match in Melbourne, Australia, this week, one of a record nine matches to take place overseas this season. And it shows no signs of slowing down yet.
Melbourne will soon welcome its first NFL regular-season match, marking the start of the league's global expansion. In 2026, the NFL will host nine international games across four continents, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The NFL's dominance in the United States, with its Sunday (and increasingly Monday and Thursday) programming, has transformed it into a cultural and economic powerhouse.
Its revenue of over $23 billion last year is nearly 26 times that of the Australian Football League. The NFL's 17-game, 18-week season ensures each match is a TV event or hot ticket. Sporting events dominate American television, with 95 of the 100 most-watched shows in 2025 being sports-related. The Super Bowl, the league's prime event, draws more viewers than any other annual American event.
For the 2026 season, the NFL will expand to international markets, starting with Australia. Sydney's Olympic Stadium hosted an NFL game in 1999, but this will be the first regular-season match in Australia. Other international destinations include Rio de Janeiro, Paris' Stade de France, London's Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley, and Mexico City.
While an overseas NFL franchise remains a possibility, Commissioner Roger Goodell insists that the league is committed to growing its global presence.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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