Kyle Shanahan says Niners get no ‘benefit’ from Australia trip

PHOENIX — San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan left little doubt Monday about his feelings on the franchise’s season-opening voyage to Australia, telling reporters at the league’s annual meetings that he sees “no pro” to the 19- to 20-hour flight his squad will endure to face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.

“I don’t see any pro,” Shanahan said bluntly when asked whether the trip held any upside for the team. “It’s cool for the league to play globally. I think that’s awesome. But as far as the team doing it, no, there’s not much benefit to it. Sometimes it’s nice to get a bye week after but doesn’t happen in Week 1.”

The 49ers will open the 2026 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 8:35 p.m. ET — Friday, Sept. 11, at 10:35 a.m. local time — inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The league elected not to grant San Francisco a bye the following week, forcing the club to fly back to the Bay Area immediately after the contest.

General manager John Lynch said Sunday that the organization is still mapping out travel plans but expects to land in Australia five to seven days before kickoff. “We may be going a little early,” Lynch acknowledged. “They may be going later, but we’re trying to look into everything to make it as comfortable [as possible]. It’s kind of like there’s a price to being a high-profile team with a lot of stars. The league wants us on prime time. They want to put us in situations. What I’ve learned, you have to advocate. I certainly do for our guys, but at some point, these are the cards you’re dealt. Let’s make it the best we possibly can.”

The Rams, designated as the home team, are anticipated to arrive closer to game day than their NFC West rivals.

The Melbourne matchup is part of an expanded international slate that will feature nine regular-season games outside the United States in 2026. San Francisco will also host an opponent in Mexico City in December, meaning the 49ers are scheduled for two of the league’s nine global showcases.

Shanahan, speaking with evident sarcasm, said, “I was so fired up. That was our goal to go 19 hours away to play a game. … We’ll deal with it. And I think there’s nine international games. We’ve got two of them, so we’re fired up about that.”