NFL 2026 season could kick off on a Wednesday due to major Australia game schedule shake-up | NFL News
The NFL is strongly considering a groundbreaking start to its 2026 season that could break away from tradition. While the league typically opens each year with the reigning Super Bowl champion hosting the first game, that might not be the case this time. Instead, there’s growing momentum behind the idea of kicking off the season in Australia—a move that would mark the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game on the continent. Though not officially confirmed, Commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted at this possibility, signaling a potential shift that could reshape how the league introduces its season on the global stage.
NFL could launch 2026 season on a Wednesday — Australia’s historic game may rewrite the calendar
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell broke the news during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, confirming, “We’re starting the season off over there next year.” The landmark game will be hosted in Melbourne, with the Los Angeles Rams designated as the home team. The identity of their opponent, however, won’t be revealed until after the conclusion of the 2025 season. The Rams’ home opponents for that year include heavyweights like the 49ers, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Chargers—any of which would offer a blockbuster opening matchup for the international audience.
This Australian kickoff isn’t without its challenges. A major hurdle lies in navigating the 14-hour time difference between Melbourne and the U.S. Eastern time zone. Mike North, the NFL’s VP of broadcast planning, elaborated on the complexities during the “It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo” podcast: “The way I understand it is, to play in prime time, here in the states on the East Coast, you’re actually playing the following morning [in Australia] local time,” he explained. That translates to a 10:15 a.m. Friday start in Melbourne aligning with an 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday night kickoff back in the U.S.—a time frame that allows for maximum TV viewership in both regions.
Given the logistical demands of international travel and recovery time for athletes, the NFL is considering pushing the game up even earlier in the week. “Because it is Week 1, you know they’re playing again in Week 2, so you don’t want to shorten that week,” North added. “I suspect it will probably be early in the week, more like a Thursday, maybe even a Wednesday, that’s a possibility that we’ve discussed.”
If the game is indeed played on a Wednesday, it would be only the second time in the past 75 years that a Week 1 game has occurred on that day. The lone previous instance dates back to 2012, when the Cowboys and Giants squared off on a Wednesday to avoid overlapping with President Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention.
While fans eagerly await the announcement of the visiting team, the NFL has also confirmed that the complete 2025 schedule—including all 272 matchups—will be released on Wednesday, May 14. That’s when the league will fully unveil how the rest of Week 1 will be shaped around this groundbreaking international clash.
The NFL’s foray into Australia is more than just a game—it’s a strategic effort to expand the league’s reach and fanbase across continents. With the Rams leading the charge in Melbourne, all eyes will be on how this historic kickoff sets the tone for a season unlike any before.
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