The NFL announced this 2026 season opener in Seattle will be played on a Wednesday, a day earlier than usual to avoid a conflict with the first NFL regular-season game to be played in Australia
The NFL announced this 2026 season opener in Seattle will be played on a Wednesday, a day earlier than usual to avoid a conflict with the first NFL regular-season game to be played in Australia
Reigning NFL champion Seattle will kickoff the 2026 campaign at home on September 9, a Wednesday date one day earlier than recent seasons, the league announced on Wednesday.
The opener was moved from its usual Thursday slot because the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Melbourne in the first NFL regular-season game in Australia on what will be Thursday night in the United States, the league said.
The Rams and 49ers will meet at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, September 11 at 10:35 a.m. local time in Australia to set up a prime time telecast over most of the United States.
The Seahawks' opponent for their week one contest in Seattle will be announced when the full NFL schedule is released later.
Tickets for the Australia game will go on sale to the public in April.
An NFL record nine international games will be played in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.
The global lineup includes other games in Mexico City, Madrid, Paris, Munich, Rio de Janeiro and three in London, one at Wembley Stadium and two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.