The NFL has taken a bold leap of faith to host a regular-season game in Australia for the first time as the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG.
* Why are they playing an American football game at the MCG?
The NFL is looking to expand the league's global fanbase and has scheduled a record nine games outside the US this season. Australia is one of the growing international fanbases..
* Why is it kicking off at 10.35am AEST on Friday?
The match starts in the morning to accommodate US primetime audiences. The start time is 8.35pm on Thursday on the East Coast of the US and 5.35pm on the West Coast, where the Rams and 49ers are based.
* Why did the league pick these two teams?
Los Angeles were chosen as the "home team" as they have marketing rights in Australia, while the 49ers were chosen because they have a strong, historic rivalry with the Rams, as they are in the same division, the NFC West.
* Will any Australians be playing?
It is very unlikely any Australian will play, but punter Jack Bouwmeester is on the Rams' practice squad. The incumbent punter Ethan Evans would likely need to injure himself, and coach Sean McVay would need to select Bouwmeester for him to play.
* Will there be more games in Australia?
Yes, the league has a multi-year partnership with Victoria to at least host two regular-season games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between 2026 and 2029, with an option for a third. The NFL has also hinted that they would want to host games down under yearly.
* What sort of crowd are they expecting?
The MCG is expected to be packed, with limited resale and hospitality tickets available.
* How much did tickets cost?
The cheapest tickets were $95 for standing room, while general admission tickets started at $140, and hospitality packages were at least $1600 per person.
