The NFL is heading to Australia for the first time in regular-season history, and U.S. viewers will be able to watch the game live on Netflix.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams play Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 8:35 p.m. ET / 5:35 p.m. PT from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
You do not need a special sports package or pay-per-view purchase. Netflix says the game is included with every active Netflix subscription at no additional charge.
Pregame coverage starts more than two hours before kickoff, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Quick Take
- Game: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 in the U.S.
- Kickoff: 8:35 p.m. ET / 5:35 p.m. PT
- Pregame coverage: 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Extra fee: No
- Netflix plan required: Any active plan
- Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia
- Australia kickoff: Friday, Sept. 11 at 10:35 a.m. AEST
- Replay: Netflix supports watching live events later
What Time Is 49ers vs. Rams?
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Sept. 10.
For U.S. viewers, that means:
- Eastern Time: 8:35 p.m.
- Central Time: 7:35 p.m.
- Mountain Time: 6:35 p.m.
- Pacific Time: 5:35 p.m.
Netflix's pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
The unusual timing comes from the game's location.
Although Americans will watch Thursday evening, it will already be Friday morning in Melbourne, where kickoff is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Do You Need to Pay Extra to Watch the Game on Netflix?
No.
Netflix says the NFL Melbourne Game is included with all Netflix plans.
There is no separate:
- Pay-per-view charge
- NFL add-on
- Sports package
- Game-specific purchase
If you already have an active Netflix subscription, you can sign in and select the NFL Melbourne Game when the stream becomes available.
This is different from some sports streaming arrangements that require an additional league subscription on top of a general entertainment service.
For this game, your normal Netflix subscription is enough.
How Do You Find the Game on Netflix?
Netflix says viewers can open the service and select the NFL Melbourne Game from its live-event listing.
You can also search for the game inside Netflix before kickoff and use the Remind Me feature.
Setting a reminder adds the event to My List and can help make it easier to find once the live broadcast begins.
If you plan to watch on a smart TV or streaming device, updating the Netflix app before Thursday is a good idea.
Netflix says live events work on most newer supported devices, including:
- Smart TVs
- Streaming media players
- Android phones and tablets
- iPhone and iPad
- Windows and Mac computers
- Supported game consoles
Some older devices may not support Netflix livestreaming even if they can still play regular movies and shows.
Can You Start the Game From the Beginning If You Join Late?
Yes.
Netflix's current live-event controls allow viewers to pause, rewind, start from the beginning or jump back to the live broadcast.
That means arriving 20 minutes after kickoff does not necessarily require you to miss the opening part of the game.
You can choose to start from the beginning rather than immediately joining the live action.
This can be especially useful for a weeknight game that starts before some West Coast viewers are home from work.
Can You Watch 49ers vs. Rams After It Ends?
Netflix says its live events can generally be watched later, and some can also be downloaded after the livestream.
Availability after a live event can sometimes be limited, so viewers who specifically want to save the game for much later should not assume it will remain on Netflix indefinitely.
Netflix also notes that a device that does not support livestreaming may still be able to play the event later once it becomes available like a normal Netflix title.
In other words, missing Thursday night's live broadcast does not necessarily mean missing the game entirely.
Will There Be Commercials?
Yes, live sports on Netflix can contain commercial breaks.
This is important even for subscribers using an ad-free Netflix plan.
Netflix says live events and other special programming may contain commercial breaks across all plans.
After a live event ends, commercial breaks are removed from the replay on ad-free experiences, although Netflix notes that ads can sometimes remain for a short period immediately after the livestream and may be fast-forwarded.
So paying for an ad-free Netflix plan does not mean the live NFL broadcast itself will run without normal football commercial breaks.
Why Is the NFL Playing in Australia?
The 49ers-Rams matchup will be the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia.
The league has steadily expanded its international schedule, staging regular-season games in countries including England, Germany, Brazil and Spain.
Australia is the newest addition.
The game takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of Australia's largest and best-known sporting venues.
It is also a divisional matchup rather than an exhibition.
The 49ers and Rams are both members of the NFC West, so the result counts toward their normal regular-season records and division standings.
Is the Game Only on Netflix?
Netflix is the primary U.S. national streaming home for the Melbourne game.
NFL's Week 1 viewing guide also lists NFL+ mobile access for the matchup under the service's applicable rules.
For viewers planning to watch on a television, Netflix is the straightforward option.
If you use NFL+ instead, check the service's device restrictions before subscribing because its live regular-season viewing options can differ between mobile devices and TVs.
Who Is Performing at Halftime?
Netflix has announced that the Jonas Brothers will perform during the halftime show.
The broadcast team also includes Noah Eagle on play-by-play and former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly as analyst.
Netflix says Elle Duncan will lead its studio coverage, with Michael Irvin, Nick Foles and Clay Matthews III among the contributors.
Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, giving viewers about two hours of coverage before the 8:35 p.m. kickoff.
What Other NFL Games Will Netflix Have in 2026?
The Melbourne game is only the beginning of an expanded NFL schedule on Netflix.
Netflix has also announced:
- A Thanksgiving Eve game on Nov. 25
- Two Christmas Day games on Dec. 25
- A Week 18 regular-season game
- NFL Honors during Super Bowl week
That makes 2026 significantly different from Netflix's earlier NFL strategy, which was centered mainly on Christmas Day.
For this week, however, the key information is simple:
49ers vs. Rams kicks off Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET / 5:35 p.m. PT on Netflix. If you already subscribe to Netflix, there is no additional charge to watch.
Sources
Netflix Tudum, “49ers vs. Rams in Australia: How to Watch the NFL Melbourne Game Live on Netflix”
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/features/nfl-melbourne-game-2026-how-to-watch
Netflix Help Center, “Live events on Netflix”
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/129840
Netflix Tudum, “NFL on Netflix 2026: Full Schedule, Matchups, Dates & How to Watch”
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/features/nfl-on-netflix-schedule
NFL, 2026 Week 1 schedule and viewing information
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-how-to-watch-week-1-schedule-melbourne-game-details-and-more
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