Matchup History
Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco 49ers
Vikings vs 49ers
Dead even after 51 games. The all-time series is tied 25-25-1, but the 49ers have owned the biggest stage, winning five of the six playoff meetings between these franchises. The Vikings took the most recent game 23-17 in 2024, and the two teams are back on the schedule for Week 11 of the 2026 season, in Mexico City.
All-time series
Tied 25-25-1
Last meeting
Sep 15, 2024 · Vikings 23-17
Playoff meetings
6 total, 49ers lead 5-1
Next meeting
Nov 22, 2026 · Mexico City
Game overview
A rivalry that is exactly even, until the playoffs start
The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers have played 51 times since 1961, and the all-time series could not be tighter: it is tied at 25 wins apiece, with one tie. Split it by game type, though, and the picture changes completely. Minnesota actually leads the regular-season series 24-20-1, but San Francisco has dominated when it matters most, winning five of the six playoff meetings between the two teams, including three straight NFC Divisional Round eliminations of the Vikings between 1988 and 1998.
The teams do not share a division, so meetings are infrequent, usually tied to the NFL's conference rotation schedule. The most recent game was a September 2024 regular-season matchup won by Minnesota, and the two franchises are scheduled to meet again in Week 11 of the 2026 season, at a neutral site in Mexico City.
Latest completed meeting
Vikings 23, 49ers 17 — September 15, 2024
Week 2 of the 2024 regular season. This is the most recent game played between these two teams.
San Francisco 49ers
17
Minnesota Vikings
23
Sam Darnold, in his first season as Minnesota's starter, threw for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 97-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson in the second quarter. Brock Purdy passed for 319 yards for San Francisco, but the 49ers could not overcome the early deficit, and Minnesota held on for a 6-point win at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Box score
Passing, rushing and receiving leaders
Statistical leaders from the September 15, 2024 meeting, the last time these two teams played.
| Player | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold | Minnesota Vikings | 17/26 | 268 | 2 | 1 |
| Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers | 28/36 | 319 | 1 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Chandler | Minnesota Vikings | 10 | 82 | 0 |
| Jordan Mason | San Francisco 49ers | 20 | 100 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings | 4 | 133 | 1 |
| Deebo Samuel | San Francisco 49ers | 8 | 110 | 0 |
Individual leaders only, not full box scores. Justin Jefferson's touchdown was a 97-yard reception in the second quarter. See sources below for the complete play-by-play.
Team comparison
Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota opened the 2026 season with a 39-22 home win over Green Bay on September 13 and is 1-0. One game is not a meaningful season sample, so the comparison below still uses each team's confirmed final 2025 result; current-season team comparisons (points per game, total offense, turnovers) will be more useful as the season progresses. For now, see the current standings and the Week 1 recap and box score.
Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota missed the playoffs after an 0-8 start turned into a five-game winning streak to finish 9-8. San Francisco went 12-5 and finished third in a crowded NFC West. Both marks are final 2025 regular-season results, not predictions for the 2026 meeting.
All-time record
Vikings vs 49ers head-to-head record
Regular season and postseason combined, through the September 2024 meeting, the most recent game between the two teams.
51 meetings, tied 25-25-1
Minnesota leads the regular-season series 24-20-1 across 45 games. San Francisco has won 5 of the 6 playoff meetings, which is enough to level the all-time record exactly at 25-25-1.
| Total meetings | 51 |
|---|---|
| Vikings wins (all-time) | 25 |
| 49ers wins (all-time) | 25 |
| Ties | 1 |
| Regular-season meetings | 45 (Vikings lead 24-20-1) |
| Playoff meetings | 6 (49ers lead 5-1) |
| Largest 49ers win | 51-7 (December 8, 1984) |
| Largest Vikings playoff win | 36-24 (January 9, 1988, NFC Divisional) |
Where the rivalry lives
Six playoff meetings, five 49ers wins
San Francisco has won every playoff meeting between these two teams since 1988. Minnesota's only postseason win in the series came in an upset for the ages at Candlestick Park.
Dec 27, 1970NFC Divisional · Metropolitan Stadium
49ers 17, Vikings 14
Minnesota came in at 12-2 after winning the inaugural NFC Central title, but San Francisco won at Metropolitan Stadium to advance to its first NFC Championship Game, where it lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
Jan 9, 1988NFC Divisional · Candlestick Park
Vikings 36, 49ers 24
Minnesota's only playoff win in the series, and one of the biggest upsets in franchise history. The fifth-seeded Vikings knocked off the top-seeded, 13-2 49ers behind wide receiver Anthony Carter, who caught 10 passes for 227 yards.
Jan 1, 1989NFC Divisional · Candlestick Park
49ers 34, Vikings 9
San Francisco routed Minnesota in the rematch a year later and went on to win Super Bowl XXIII, the first of back-to-back titles for the 49ers dynasty of that era.
Jan 6, 1990NFC Divisional · Candlestick Park
49ers 41, Vikings 13
A third straight divisional-round loss to San Francisco, which went on to complete back-to-back Super Bowl titles by beating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV.
Jan 3, 1998NFC Divisional · Candlestick Park
49ers 38, Vikings 22
Minnesota's rookie sensation Randy Moss and the rest of the record-setting 1998 offense had not yet arrived; this 1997-season Vikings team fell to San Francisco in the divisional round for the third time in a decade.
Jan 11, 2020NFC Divisional · Levi's Stadium
49ers 27, Vikings 10
Kirk Cousins and the Vikings, fresh off a wild-card win at New Orleans, could not keep pace with a 49ers team that went on to reach Super Bowl LIV. As of the 2025 season, this remains Minnesota's most recent playoff win-or-go-home appearance decided against San Francisco.
Match history
Recent regular-season meetings
Selected regular-season games between the two teams. The six playoff meetings above are not repeated here.
| Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2024 | Vikings 23, 49ers 17 | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis |
| September 9, 2018 | Vikings 24, 49ers 16 | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis |
The September 9, 2018 game was Kirk Cousins' regular-season debut at quarterback for Minnesota. Not an exhaustive list of all 45 regular-season meetings; see the sources below for the complete game log.
2026 matchup
How to watch Vikings vs 49ers in 2026
Minnesota and San Francisco are scheduled to meet in Week 11 of the 2026 season, as part of the NFL's International Series in Mexico City.
Date & kickoff
Sunday, November 22, 2026. Kickoff is set for the NBC Sunday Night Football window, with kickoff at 7:20 PM CST / 8:20 PM EST. Confirm the exact time closer to the game, since international-game windows are sometimes adjusted.
View full scheduleVenue
Estadio Banorte (formerly Estadio Azteca) in Mexico City, Mexico — a neutral-site international game, not a home game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Stadium guideBroadcast
Carried nationally on NBC. NBC's Sunday Night Football games are typically simulcast on Peacock; check local listings closer to kickoff for the final channel and streaming details.
All viewing guidesThis page does not list ticket or travel details for the Mexico City game. Check the official Vikings tickets page for current information as the game approaches.
Related coverage
More matchup history on this site
Sources used on this page:
- 1970 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 1987 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 1988 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 2019 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 2018 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 2024 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 2025 Minnesota Vikings season, Wikipedia
- 2025 San Francisco 49ers season, Wikipedia
- All-time head-to-head record, Champs or Chumps
- Official Vikings 2026 schedule
- 2026 NFL season, Wikipedia (International Series games)