The NFL's international presence is set to expand even further, with plans underway to potentially schedule a regular season game in Australia. According to 9News in Melbourne, discussions have already taken place regarding the possibility of hosting an NFL game in Australia, with the game potentially taking place as early as the 2025 season or as late as the 2026 season.

While the exact location for the game has not been confirmed, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been engaged in preliminary talks with the NFL. If the game does take place in Australia, it is likely that the Los Angeles Rams would be the home team, as they currently hold sole international marketing rights to the country. These rights were awarded to the Rams in December 2021 and are secured until January 1, 2027.

The Rams' Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Demoff, expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of playing a game in Australia in February 2022. Demoff stated that the team would be eager to participate in an exhibition game, training camp, or even a regular season game if the NFL were to make that decision.

While the logistics of organizing a game in Australia would present challenges due to the significant time difference, the NFL is confident it can work around it. Possible solutions include scheduling the game in Week 1 and playing it on Thursday or Friday to allow ample time for the teams to travel back and adjust to the time difference. Alternatively, if the game is scheduled after Week 1, the participating teams would likely need a bye week after playing in Australia.

The NFL's international expansion efforts have been steadily growing over the years. In 1999, a preseason game was played in Australia, and in 2016, there were discussions about hosting the Pro Bowl in Sydney. Furthermore, the league recently announced the opening of an international academy in Australia's Gold Coast in September. This academy will join the existing one in England as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program.

The NFL's international series has rapidly expanded, with games being hosted in London, Mexico City, Toronto, Frankfurt, Munich, Sao Paulo, and now plans for a game in Madrid in 2025. The league is expected to continue its aggressive international expansion, with a projected nine international games starting in the 2025 season. This is in line with a rule passed by the owners in December, requiring all teams to host an international game every four years, effectively increasing the number of international games significantly.

As the NFL explores new horizons, including the potential for a regular season game in Australia, fans and stakeholders eagerly await further developments on this exciting international expansion initiative.