The NFL fanbase is surging in sports-mad Australia. When a regular-season game kicks off for the first time Down Under on Friday a sellout crowd will pack the 100,000-plus capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to roar their enthusiasm.
\n\nYes. That’s right. A traditional cricket ground in Australia’s second biggest city will host the Los Angeles Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers as the NFL launches a record nine-game international schedule across four continents and seven countries.
\n\nTickets at the cavernous MCG were snapped up within minutes, echoing the interest the NFL has enjoyed when staging games in other overseas markets and now being wildly embraced Down Under, AFP reports.
\n\nAustralia — a sports-mad nation of 28 million people who embrace rugby, cricket, Aussie Rules, soccer and just about anything else — is the latest destination added to the NFL global slate, the league saying the country has 6.6 million NFL fans.
\n\nAFP reports Aussie interest is driven by the popularity of flag football.
\n\nMembers of the visiting San Francisco 49ers with Ben Graham watch some Aussie Rules as the 2026 AFL First Elimination Final between the Geelong Cats and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground kicks off…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/sports/
