Super Bowl champion Seahawks to open 2026 NFL season on Wednesday night

NFL fans tell OutKick's Davey Hudson the league's streaming strategy has become a source of consternation as prices rise. (Credit: OutKick)

The 2026 NFL season is opening on a Wednesday night, and the reigning Super Bowl champions will be involved. 

The Seattle Seahawks, who took down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX to climb back atop the football world, will play host to a team to be announced later to kick off the 2026 season Sept. 9, a rare Wednesday game. 

While the NFL has had to play on a Wednesday due to scheduling conflicts in the past or on holidays, this occurrence has to do with the league’s latest international debut of its product. 

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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will be playing in Melbourne, Australia, with the game kicking off at 10:35 a.m. local time on a Friday. Back home, it will be 8:35 p.m. ET on Sept. 10, which is a Thursday night compared to Friday morning in Australia. 

"We are thrilled to kick off our season in Melbourne, enhancing an already historic moment for both the NFL and the Rams," Stephanie Cheng, Rams head of international, said in a statement. 

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"Every time members of our organization visit, including earlier this month, we see firsthand the growing excitement from folks across Melbourne in anticipation of this game. Not only will it be special playing the 49ers on a Friday morning in Australia, it also will be