Kyle Shanahan has warmed to Australia.<\/p>\n
His grievance with Los Angeles, however, remains fully intact.<\/p>\n
After spending several days in Melbourne ahead of San Francisco\u2019s Week 1 showdown with the Rams, Shanahan acknowledged that his initial frustration with the NFL\u2019s first regular-season game in Australia has softened.<\/p>\n
San Francisco 49ers\u2019 head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks to the media at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Monday, September 7, 2026. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I said that, that was nothing against Australia or anything,\u201d Shanahan said Sunday. \u201cThat\u2019s just about competition and how important our 17 games are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shanahan\u2019s issue has always centered on which Rams home game was shipped nearly 8,000 miles away from SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n
San Francisco fans have routinely flooded the Rams\u2019 home venue when the NFC West rivals meet in Los Angeles, often making one of the 49ers\u2019 road games feel considerably less hostile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see it as one home game a year in L.A., just the way our fans take over that stadium,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cSo, it was disappointing to let them off the hook and get them out of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving the matchup overseas may not solve that problem.<\/p>\n
Participants perform during the Melbourne Cheer Challenge on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. The event, led by the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders, broke the previous Guinness World Record with 1,424 participants. Ye Myo Khant\/SOPA Images\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n