Cody Simpson will perform the Australian national anthem before the historic NFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with more than 100,000 spectators expected. The Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in Australia’s first-ever regular season NFL game.
Simpson told The Hit Network’s Carrie & Tommy that he was “feeling the nerves” ahead of the performance at the packed venue, describing the MCG as a “pretty daunting place when it’s full.” He remarked, “I’m super stoked. I half grew up over in L.A., I moved over when I was 13 and got signed. So, it’s cool to come over and be a part of the first NFL game on Aussie soil.”
Simpson is no stranger to high-profile anthem performances. He previously sang “Advance Australia Fair” at the AFL Grand Final in 2024, the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in 2022, and before an NBA Australia Day match in 2016. “I’m going to do it the exact same way. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said.
The Jonas Brothers are scheduled to perform at half-time. Simpson also noted the novelty of American football in Australia: “I feel like as Australians we have a natural interest in American culture, and there’s an interest to see something new at the MCG. It’s going to be cracking.”
Simpson, 29, is a five-time Billboard 200 charting artist with a top 10 album, Surfers Paradise (2013). He is also a Commonwealth Games gold medalist in swimming, having won gold in the men’s 4×100m freestyle relay in 2022.
See Jonas Brothers live
Upcoming Jonas Brothers events with tickets available:
- Sep 25, 2026 — TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts · Get tickets
- Sep 26, 2026 — SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire · Get tickets
- Sep 30, 2026 — Capital One Arena, Washington, District Of Columbia · Get tickets
- Oct 1, 2026 — Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina · Get tickets
- Oct 2, 2026 — Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Get tickets
Tickets are sold by GetUrTix. Code GTIX20 takes 20% off the ticket price at checkout — no minimum, no expiry.
Source: Billboard
