PHOENIX — Kyle Shanahan isn’t quite sure whether the 49ers will be traveling forward or backward when they make the trip to Melbourne, Australia, to open next season against the Rams.

He just knows they will be spending nearly a full day on an airplane.

“I think we’re going back in time or into the future. I think we gain a day or lose a day,” Shanahan joked on Monday at the NFL’s annual league meetings in Phoenix. “I’m not sure which one yet.”

For the record, the Rams and 49ers will actually be heading into the future. So much so that their season opener on Sept 10th will be played on a Friday in Australia but on Thursday in the United States.

So Shanahan’s confusion is understandable. As is his excitement, or lack thereof, about opening the season against a bitter division rival some 7,865 miles away from home at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Oh, so fired up,” Shanahan deadpanned. “That was our goal, to go 19 hours away to play a game.”

The 49ers actually play two international games this season. In addition to their game in Melbourne, they are hosting a game in Mexico City at Estadio Banorte Stadium.

“I think there’s eight international games. We got two of them,” Shanahan said. “So we’re fired up about that.”

Shanahan understands growing the game globally, so from the NFL’s perspective, the international games are vitally important.

From a practical standpoint, especially through the eyes of a head coach, let’s just say it’s a necessary evil.

“It’s cool for the league to play globally. I think that’s awesome,” Shanahan said. “But as far as the team doing it, there’s not much benefit to it.”

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