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Shanahan Says Rams Lobbied for Australia Opener, Presses for Mexico City Rematch

The pushback highlights worries about competitive balance tied to the NFL's larger slate of overseas games.

Overview

  • Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday’s PFT Live he knows “for a fact” the Rams asked the NFL to move their home game with the 49ers to Australia and he urged the league to send Los Angeles to Mexico City as well.
  • The 49ers will face the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET, which is Sept. 11 at 10:35 a.m. local time, with Los Angeles designated as the home team.
  • General manager John Lynch said the 49ers plan to arrive in Australia five to seven days early to adjust to the 19-hour time change, while reports say the Rams will travel closer to kickoff and there will be no postgame bye.
  • San Francisco is also set to host a Week 11 game in Mexico City, with the opponent not yet announced, and the club is lobbying for the Rams in a bid to balance the travel burden.
  • The NFL has scheduled a record nine international games for 2026 across multiple countries, a strategy that boosts global reach but forces long flights and body‑clock resets that teams say can affect preparation and recovery.