The NFL’s first-ever game in Australia is on a collision course with the AFL’s 2026 finals, as the American league locks in a blockbuster at the MCG, right in the heart of September.
With the Los Angeles Rams confirmed as one half of the fixture, AFL officials now face a scheduling headache they didn’t foresee when welcoming the idea earlier this year.
Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph revealed on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle that the likely date for the NFL match is Friday, 11 September 2026, which falls in the second week of the AFL finals.
If major Melbourne clubs like Carlton or Collingwood qualify for home semi-finals, the AFL could be left scrambling to relocate or delay key matches.
No “easy answers” for AFL as MCG pressure builds
“The NFL is about to seriously upset the AFL’s finals plans next year,” Ralph said. “My understanding is that Friday, September 11, is the likely date for that clash… That would mean that it’s semi-final weekend.”
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While options like moving the AFL season or scheduling finals at alternate venues have been floated, Ralph said a two-week shift proposed by Eddie McGuire, ending with an October Grand Final, remains unlikely.
MCC boss Stuart Fox tried to downplay the logistical chaos, telling SEN: “History shows we can turn the ground very quickly… it’s going to be a challenge for our team, but that’s what our team do for a living.”
And despite Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen’s assurance that “there won’t be a clash,” the tension between codes is undeniable.
As Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood put it: “They’re known for big hits in the NFL — and it’s well and truly on a collision course.”