The NFL’s international growth has continued with Australia confirmed as the latest overseas host of a regular-season game.

The league had carried out site visits to Melbourne and Sydney to explore the viability of playing in Australia.

And the Melbourne Cricket Ground was selected to stage the first game in the Asia-Pacific region during the 2026 season.

The Los Angeles Rams will be the designated ‘home’ team for the first game of a multi-year partnership at the MCG, which has a capacity of about 100,000.

The NFL has rapidly been expanding its global reach in recent years, playing in South America for the first time at the start of this season.

Madrid and Berlin will host their first games in 2025, while London will again have three games next season.

The announcement was made in New Orleans during Super Bowl week.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had previously said the league were “shooting for” eight international games in 2025.

He said he “expects” to return to Brazil and Mexico next season, with a first game in Ireland “a possibility”.