The NFL has announced that the 2026 season will start with the Seattle Seahawks hosting a rare Wednesday night opener on September 9. This marks the second time in history the NFL has kicked off a season on a Wednesday, with the Seahawks defending their title. Following this unusual start, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10. The kickoff time for this game in Australia has been officially set for 8:35 p.m. ET. Fans are abuzz about the significant changes to the schedule, which includes the historic debut of an NFL game in Australia.