For better or worse, the 49ers will continue to log travel miles
TL;DR
The San Francisco 49ers will open their season in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams and face the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City, leading the NFL in travel miles. Concerns about player fatigue due to extensive travel have been raised, but the team's popularity ensures continued international games.
Key points
- 49ers will open the season in Australia against the Rams
- They will also play the Vikings in Mexico City
- The team leads the NFL in travel miles
- Concerns about player fatigue due to extensive travel
- The NFL aims to expand its reach with international games
Mentioned in this story
According to several leaks, which have been confirmed, the San Francisco 49ers will open the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia and will face the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City. Because of the Australia trip, Los Angeles and San Francisco are tops in the NFL in travel miles. The concern is fatigue from traveling so much, as fans have seen this in previous seasons. However, this will likely continue for the 49ers in the coming seasons.
If you’ve ever attended a 49ers road game, not just at SoFi Stadium, you know how well the fan base travels. Furthermore, the 49ers are near the top of valuation for NFL franchises. As long as the 49ers are big business and their fans are passionate, the NFL will keep using them to expand the game’s reach in different countries.
Now, in past seasons, the 49ers have traveled the most miles by traveling in America. This time, the 49ers will go through a time loop, traveling to Australia in Week 1. The good news is the game is scheduled for the middle of the week, giving the team extra time to rest for their second game. As we wait for the official NFL schedule release, will the NFL put a bye week next to the Mexico City game?
No matter how expensive the ticket and travel costs are, 49ers fans will take each stadium over. The NFL is scheduling a big rivalry game between the Rams and 49ers in Australia, and both teams are very popular as the league hopes to gain intrigue down under from potential Australian fans.
Unfortunately, as long as the fan base travels this well, the NFL will look to the 49ers to travel outside the country for big games. The 49ers are a cash cow and big business; the NFL knows this.
Q&A
What teams will the 49ers play internationally in the 2026 season?
The 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams in Australia and the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City.
How will the 49ers' extensive travel affect player performance?
There are concerns about player fatigue due to the high travel miles, which could impact their performance during the season.
Why does the NFL schedule international games for the 49ers?
The NFL schedules international games for the 49ers to leverage their strong fan base and expand the league's reach in other countries.

