Rams and 49ers face off in NFL's first Australia game: Live updates

The NFL is back and crossing borders once again.

The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams kick off their 2026 schedules on Thursday night (8:20 p.m. ET, Netflix), but the divisional foes who will be jockeying for top turf in the NFC West find themselves on Australian soil.

The teams will square off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, the first NFL game to take place "Down Under."

Aussie fans should be in for a treat. The Rams entered the 2026 season with the shortest odds of any team to win the Super Bowl, and with good reason: Los Angeles added a trio of playmakers this offseason, swinging trades for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett, while welcoming back future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, though he won't play in Week 1. The new- (and old-) look defense should complement its already high-octane offensive attack, still steered by MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The 49ers have had one of the most bizarre offseasons in recent memory. The Brandon Aiyuk saga, Kyle Shanahan's car crash, the arrest of owner Jed York and the continuing (and unfounded) conspiracy theories surrounding the nearby electrical substation have hung over the team. Still, San Francisco is relying on a well-rounded roster to try and upend their divisional foes – one of whom is the reigning Super Bowl champ.

All that and more should make for a foreign affair worth watching. USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, highlights and more from the matchup below.

How to watch Rams vs. 49ers Australia game tonight

Start time:8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT

Live stream:Netflix

TV channel:Local markets only

Rams vs. 49ers live updates

6:05 pm ET

What TV channel is Rams vs. 49ers on today?

Tom Viera

Only fans in the local markets of the Rams and 49ers can watch the Australia game on cable television.

Here's where those fans can tune in on Sept. 10:

TV channel:

Los Angeles: KNBC

San Francisco: NBC Bay Area (KNTV)

The Rams-49ers matchup is the only game being played on Thursday in Week 1. You can stream the game on Netflix.

5:32 pm ET

Where is Rams-49ers NFL game being played in Australia?

Tom Viera

The game is being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

5:20 pm ET

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Tom Viera

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5:15 pm ET

Rams vs. 49ers odds

Tom Viera

Provided by DraftKings Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a complete list.

Moneyline (ML): Rams -198 (Bet $198 to win $100) | 49ers +164 (Bet $100 to win $164)

Against the spread (ATS): Rams -3.5 (-118) | 49ers +3.5 (-102)

Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

5:00 pm ET

Rams vs. 49ers prediction by A.I.

Jacob Camenker

Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 23

AI's take: The Rams have a "more stable offensive setup" than the 49ers, in Copilot's estimate. The chatbot also expressed concerns about the 49ers "recent roster turnover," which led it to favor Los Angeles in the NFL's first regular-season Australia game.

Our take: Not only do the Rams have a great offensive setup, but their defense added Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie to the fold. That should help the Rams maintain an advantage over the 49ers on both sides of the ball – provided they can adjust their body clocks as well or better than the 49ers.

4:50 pm ET

Rams vs. 49ers prediction

Tom Viera

Bold strategy by McVay and the Rams to spend over 15 hours on a plane the day before playing. The 49ers have had plenty of time to adjust their bodies and will keep this within a field goal.

Rams 27, 49ers 24

See more predictions for the Rams and 49ers matchup here.

4:20 pm ET

NFL international games 2026

Tom Viera

Week 1 (Sept. 10): Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Melbourne

Week 3 (Sept. 27): Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens | Maracaña Stadium | Rio de Janeiro

Week 4 (Oct. 4): Washington Commanders vs. Indianapolis Colts | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | London

Week 5 (Oct. 11): Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | London

Week 6 (Oct. 18): Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans | Wembley Stadium | London

Week 7 (Oct. 25): New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Stade de France | Paris

Week 9 (Nov. 8): Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals | Bernabéu | Madrid

Week 10 (Nov. 15): Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots | Allianz Arena | Munich

Week 11 (Nov. 22): San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings | Estadio Banorte | Mexico City

4:10 pm ET

What time does Rams-49ers NFL game start?

Tom Viera

The 49ers and Rams start their regular season at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. ET, 5:35 p.m. PT on Thursday, Sept. 10.

4:05 pm ET

How to watch Rams vs. 49ers game today

Tom Viera

You can only watch the Rams vs. 49ers game on Netflix if you're outside the local markets. That means you will need Netflix to watch the NFL game today, unless you live in either the Los Angeles or San Francisco market.

Fans looking to watch in one of those markets can see the game on their local NBC affiliate:

Streaming (national): Netflix

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