Sold out Melbourne crowd stands for 25th anniversary commemoration of 9/11 at NFL's first Australia game, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/sold-out-melbourne-crowd-stands-25th-anniversary-commemoration-9-11-nfl-first-australia-game)
11-09-2026
The report from Fox News / OutKick details the pregame commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks during the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Australia:
- Historic Setting: The matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) before a sold-out crowd. Because of the local date and time zone difference, it served as the only NFL game played directly on September 11 itself to host a 25th anniversary tribute.
- Solemn Ceremony: Pregame honors featured a joint color guard consisting of U.S. Marines and sailors alongside members of the Australian Defence Force. The crowd stood for the American national anthem, performed by the New York-based group Infinity Song, followed by Australian singer Cody Simpson performing “Advance Australia Fair.”
- Support for Families of the Fallen: Through the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), military families connected to 9/11 attended the game and participated in memorial events across Melbourne throughout the week, including a service at the Shrine of Remembrance.
- Broadcast Reflections: The broadcast featured reflections on the tragedy, including memories from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodellwho was in the league’s New York offices on the morning of 9/11and former Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde discussing the team discussions that ultimately led the league to postpone Week 2 games during the 2001 season.