The National Football League's inaugural game in Melbourne, Australia, included a pre-game ceremony featuring a traditional Indigenous Australian address that was described as a land acknowledgement rather than a welcome.
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, a Wurundjeri elder, delivered the address at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 11, 2026. The ceremony, which also commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11, incorporated Indigenous customs, including the offering of a leaf and a statement about the land belonging to its original inhabitants.
Wandin's address, referred to as a "Welcome to Country" by some, focused on acknowledging the Indigenous history of the land, which she stated dates back 60,000 years. She noted that the land is the traditional territory of the Manangan people, specifically the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung.
"Accepting this gift means that you are welcome to everything from the tops of the trees to the roots of the earth," Wandin said, presenting a leaf. "Wominjeka, Wurundjeri Baluk, and on my father's land, we sincerely hope you have a wonderful time here at the MCG. Wominjeka. Welcome."
The NFL's decision to include the acknowledgement in the international game's ceremony has drawn scrutiny, with criticism that it was a "stolen land acknowledgement lecture" and inappropriate for a sporting event. The commentary suggested that such acknowledgements are performative, as land is not being returned to Indigenous people.
During her address, Wandin also initially misidentified one of the participating teams, thanking the "Los Angeles Char-Rams" instead of the Los Angeles Rams, who were playing the 49ers. "Naarm," the Indigenous name for Melbourne, was also used in her speech.
The NFL has not publicly commented on the content of the ceremony. The league is looking to expand its international presence, with this game marking a significant step in its efforts to engage global audiences.