The San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Melbourne, where the first regular-season NFL game in Australia turned the Melbourne Cricket Ground into a stage for corporate sport and spectacle. Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, and the 49ers controlled the game in front of 100,021 fans.
Who Got the Best of the Travel Game
The 49ers arrived in Melbourne a week earlier and spent time adjusting to the trip. The Rams came much later, with one AP report saying they arrived a day ahead of time and another saying they boomeranged in 28 hours before kickoff. The different travel plans drew attention before the game, and the 49ers said the early arrival helped them settle in and enjoy the city.
Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel caught Purdy’s touchdown passes. Purdy passed for 205 yards. Kyren Williams scored the NFL’s first Australian touchdown on a 5-yard run to open the second quarter, but the 49ers scored the final 24 points. San Francisco’s defense held Matthew Stafford to 15 completions on 25 attempts for 155 yards and stopped him on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from the San Francisco 1 in the third quarter.
Evans said, “It was definitely worth it to come a little bit early,” and added, “We definitely got acclimated. ... All the guys attacked it. We didn’t complain. We actually enjoyed being here in Melbourne.” Kyle Shanahan said the stadium “felt gladiator-ish. ... It felt like home once we got here. I’m glad the guys played like it, too.” Stafford said, “Probably only had two good drives, to be honest,” and added, “Not enough good stuff on offense. We didn’t do the things that we’re accustomed to doing. Too many times, we were on different pages. That starts with me.”
The Crowd, the Merch, the Machine
The game drew a party atmosphere in Melbourne, with fans lining up for merchandise and proof-of-attendance items, and with many Americans and Australians making the trip. Richard Trang, an accountant originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, now living in San Francisco, said, “It’s been great seeing all these red jerseys,” and, “I love the mutual respect between Niners fans and Australians. We love that the Niners came a week early, and Australians feel the same way.” He predicted a 49ers win and was right.
Nick and Dorcas Mwangi, who live in Los Angeles, called the trip a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Dorcas Mwangi said, “They’re not going to be here long enough to let jetlag sink in,” and Nick Mwangi said, “It’s very simple. No distractions. You come in, take care of business, and then get out.” Other fans also traveled without tickets or from across Australia. Dion Carrancho, who lives in Los Angeles and supports the 49ers, said, “We usually wait until the day of the game because prices drop, so that’s what we did,” and added, “The Rams are Super Bowl favorites, but we’ll beat them. We always do.”
Rick Lane, a 66-year-old electrician from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said, “I’m here to see my Rams play,” and, “I’ve been a fan since 1969. The first game I ever saw on TV was the Rams and the Vikings, and I fell in love with the ram horns.” He also said, “My flight was 17 hours, I slept 13,” and added that the Rams players “had full lay out beds, and I didn’t have any of those perks that they had, so I’m sure they’ll be fine.” The contrast said plenty. The players moved with beds and schedules. The fans paid the price in time, money and exhaustion.
What They Called Celebration
Andrew Burgess, from Nelson Bay near Sydney in New South Wales state, said he had supported the 49ers since seeing them on TV in the 1980s. The 68-year-old retiree said seeing the team in Australia meant “everything,” and added, “Particularly since we’re playing our arch enemy. This is one of the most significant games of the season.” He also said, “The distance from the sideline is a problem — I’ve accepted the fact that I will be eight miles away from the action,” and joked, “but I don’t care. Once it was announced, non-attendance was not an option.”
The pregame atmosphere mixed Australian and American elements. Indigenous dancers performed a Welcome to Country dance, American breakdancers performed nearby, and Infinity Song sang The Star Spangled Banner. The Shane Warne Stand sign was flanked by LED boards showing the Stars and Stripes. Fans booed former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire as he ran out for the coin toss alongside Australian artist G-Flip, and Matthew Stafford was booed as he ran out with the Rams amid blue and yellow smoke. The Rams’ mariachi band also appeared during the quarter-time break, and fans later sang Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses in unison.
Myles Garrett had a quiet debut for the Rams after missing much of training camp with aches and recording zero tackles. He said, “This was the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there, and I’ve got to be better.” Coach Sean McVay said, “I know there’s gonna be a lot of narratives that appropriately put the blame on me, and then we’ll move forward the right way,” and added, “I don’t believe (the travel plan) is why we didn’t play well enough. I really don’t.”
The 49ers host Miami on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Rams host the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21.