Recently, the NFL announced that in the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers will meet in the league’s first international game in Australia.
Despite enthusiasm from fans, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua dismissed the idea, even criticizing Los Angeles’ fan base in the process.
Puka Nacua Takes Dig at Rams Fans After NFL Assigns Australia Game Against 49ers
Nacua appeared on divisional rival Fred Warner’s podcast, “Real Ones: The League,” to discuss next season’s international matchup. During the episode, Nacua questioned why the Rams and 49ers were being sent to Australia when the teams are located only an hour apart.
Warner responded that the league was seeking to expand its global reach, noting the lengthy travel required for the game. “They’re trying to make worldwide moves. They want us on that jet going 20 hours to Down Under,” he said.
“I love kangaroos, but I want to see them when I play somebody across the country,” Nakua responded. Warner pointed out that the trip would cost the Rams a home game, while the 49ers would retain theirs.
“Honestly, at SoFi, there’s not too many home games,” Nacua said, a comment Warner acknowledged as a “low blow to us.”
Puka Nacua takes a shot at Rams fans:
Puka: “We’re an hour away from each other, why are we getting sent there [Australia]?”
Fred Warner: “They trying to make worldwide moves. They want us on that jet going 20 hours to Down Under.”
Puka: “I love kangaroos, but I want to see… pic.twitter.com/Wx9ysWvxuA
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 7, 2026
Next season’s game between the two teams will count as a home game for the Rams, meaning they will not host the 49ers at SoFi Stadium. During the exchange, Nacua suggested that home games against the 49ers are often dominated by San Francisco fans.
This season, the 49ers and Rams met twice. The first game in November was won by the Rams, 42-26. In the second matchup at SoFi Stadium, the 49ers prevailed 26-23 in overtime.
In PFSN’s NFL Wide Receiver Impact Metric, Nacua ranked as the top wide receiver in the regular season with an impact score of 98.2 and a grade of A+.
And despite season-ending ankle injury, Warner still ranked as the 10th-best linebacker. He finished with an impact score of 87.2 and a grade of B+ in PFSN’s NFL Linebacker Impact Metric.
Regardless of both players’ opinions on traveling to Australia for the international game, there is little doubt it will be an entertaining matchup.
