Marietta High School will open its 2026 football season in London, travelling to face the NFL Academy — an England-based programme supported by the NFL that fields international student-athletes aiming for U.S. college opportunities.
- Marietta High will open its 2026 season in England against the NFL Academy.
- CBS Atlanta reported the game will take place in London; the AJC specifies Aug. 21 in Loughborough and identifies Kris Durham as head of the NFL Academy.
- The NFL Academy is an England-based, NFL-supported programme that fields international athletes aiming for U.S. college scholarships and began competitive fixtures in 2022.
What was confirmed
Local and national outlets report that Marietta High School will travel to England to play the NFL Academy to begin its 2026 season. CBS Atlanta published a story stating the game will take place in London and that the Academy is a programme backed by the NFL featuring international athletes learning American football. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has additional reporting that places the fixture on Aug. 21 in Loughborough and notes Kris Durham — a former University of Georgia receiver — leads the NFL Academy programme in England.
Timing, context and competition
According to reporting in the evidence packet, Marietta’s trip is scheduled to coincide with the start of the 2026 high school season in August. The AJC article specifies Aug. 21 as the date for the Academy’s season opener with Marietta, while CBS Atlanta describes the visit as the Panthers opening their 2026 campaign in London.
The NFL Academy is described in the sources as an England-based development programme founded to provide international prospects with training, education and exposure with the aim of securing American college scholarships. The AJC article notes the Academy opened in 2019 and began playing competitive fixtures in 2022; it fields players from multiple continents and has previously played and beaten U.S. high school programs.
Who’s involved
- Marietta High School — the visiting U.S. high school opening its 2026 season overseas. Players and coaches told CBS Atlanta the trip is viewed as a rare opportunity to compete internationally while representing Georgia and the United States.
- NFL Academy (England) — the host programme supported by the NFL, which brings together international student-athletes to learn American football and pursue college scholarship pathways.
- Kris Durham — reported by the AJC as head of the NFL Academy in Loughborough; the AJC places him as a former University of Georgia receiver now overseeing the UK-based programme.
What the teams and local media have said
CBS Atlanta quoted Marietta players calling the trip “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and said players were excited about both the on-field challenge and the cultural experience. The AJC reporting highlights the Academy’s international makeup and its mission to prepare athletes for U.S. college opportunities; it also notes the programme has scheduled competitive fixtures since 2022.
Practical implications and what happens next
For Marietta, an overseas opener means additional travel logistics, international clearances and an unusual competitive preparation compared with a standard home or regional away opener. Sources describe the trip as both a cultural exchange and a competitive test; CBS Atlanta reported players joking about sampling English food while also emphasising the sporting value.
The AJC reporting situates the fixture as part of the NFL Academy’s wider strategy to test its roster against American high school programmes as part of player development. The Academy will use these matches to showcase athletes to U.S. college recruiters and to measure itself against established U.S. high school opposition.
Timeline of publicly reported milestones
- 2019 — AJC reports the NFL Academy opened in England (as stated in the AJC article).
- 2022 — AJC notes the Academy began playing competitive football fixtures.
- July 29, 2026 — CBS Atlanta reports Marietta will open its 2026 season in London against the NFL Academy.
- Aug. 21, 2026 — AJC places the game on this date in Loughborough (reported as the Academy’s season opener vs. Marietta).
How this fits into broader high-school and international football trends
The fixture reflects growing interest in cross-border youth and high-school competition. The NFL Academy’s model — using international training, education and competitive fixtures to funnel athletes toward U.S. college opportunities — has led to organised matches with American high schools since the Academy started playing competitively in 2022, according to the AJC. For U.S. programs such as Marietta, an international opener doubles as both a sporting test and a recruitment/visibility exercise for players.
Outstanding details and sourcing note
Primary facts in this article are drawn from CBS Atlanta and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting included in the supplied evidence packet. CBS Atlanta confirmed the overall trip and London location; the AJC provided the Aug. 21 date and background on the NFL Academy and Kris Durham’s role. Where the two sources differ in phrasing or emphasise different details, this article reports each claim and attributes it to the originating outlet rather than reconciling them into an unconfirmed single-source assertion.
G3.Football will update this story if the schools, leagues or the NFL Academy publish an official fixture announcement or release additional logistics, venue or broadcast information.