NFL

NFL Season to Open With a Seattle Matchup and League’s First Australia Game

The Seahawks’ opponent has not been picked, but the game Down Under will pit the Rams against the 49ers.
NFL Season to Open With a Seattle Matchup and League’s First Australia Game
Jason Myers (5) of the Seattle Seahawks kicks a field goal against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. Ishika Samant/Getty Images
Ross Kelly
|Updated:
0:00
The full 2026 NFL schedule won’t be released for another couple of months, but the league announced details on the first two games of what will be its 107th season. The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and will feature the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks against an opponent to be determined.

The second game will be the first of its kind: the league’s first-ever regular season game Down Under. The Australia Game will take place the night after the Kickoff Game, with the San Francisco 49ers facing the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.

Ross Kelly
Ross Kelly
Author
Ross Kelly is a sports journalist who has been published by ESPN, CBS and USA Today. He has also done statistical research for Stats Inc. and Synergy Sports Technology. A graduate of LSU, Ross resides in Houston.