The National Football League is expanding its global reach, with plans to bring games to Australia in 2026. Reports from the Australian Herald Sun indicate that Melbourne will host up to three NFL games, marking the league's first foray into a fourth continent.

The inaugural game is expected to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a stadium with a capacity of around 100,000. The Herald Sun reports that this match will showcase two teams with recent Super Bowl success: the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are part of the NFL's Global Markets Program in Australia, an initiative aimed at cultivating international fan bases.

This isn't the NFL's first venture into Australia. The Denver Broncos and the then-San Diego Chargers played a preseason game there back in 1999.

The Eagles also participated in the NFL's first South American game earlier this season, facing the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. The upcoming games in Melbourne are part of the NFL’s continued international expansion, which includes games in London, Mexico, Germany, and, later this year, Spain.

The Victorian government and the NFL have reportedly been in discussions about this venture for several months. Interestingly, Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata is an Australian native, a former rugby star who transitioned to American football.