The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Friday, September 11, 2026, in the first NFL regular-season game held in Australia. Playing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw touchdown passes to Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, and Deebo Samuel to secure the victory in front of 100,021 spectators.
The two teams utilized different travel strategies for the season opener. The 49ers arrived in Melbourne a week before the game to adjust to the local time zone. In contrast, the Rams arrived approximately 28 hours before kickoff, maintaining their body clocks on California time to minimize the impact of the 10:35 a.m. local start.
San Francisco's defense limited the Los Angeles offense to 290 total yards and one touchdown. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and was stopped on a fourth-down quarterback sneak near the goal line. For the Rams, Myles Garrett recorded zero tackles in his debut and stated after the game that his knee injury was significant and he was at less than full health.
The attendance of 100,021 fans represents the seventh-largest regular-season crowd in NFL history. For the Rams, the loss and the zero-tackle performance by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett raised questions regarding team health and the travel strategy.
For the 49ers, the win followed the return of defensive leaders Fred Warner and Nick Bosa from previous injuries. The game also included a performance by Mike Evans, who caught six passes and one touchdown in his first appearance for San Francisco. Both teams now return to the U.S. for their next games. The 49ers are scheduled to host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 20, while the Rams will host the New York Giants on Monday, September 21.