After McCarthy's Vikings vs Aaron Rodgers' Jets, HS football team from Bay Area to play in London as NFL eyes global expansion

The Minnesota Vikings will clash with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 6, 2024. This historic game marks a significant step in the NFL's strategy to expand its global presence.

De La Salle, a high school football team from California's Bay Area, has been chosen to play in London as part of the league's international program.

De La Salle is scheduled to take on the NFL Academy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8. The NFL Academy is the league's player development program established in 2019 for UK athletes. Nike sponsored the trip and the press release from the school.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for our players," Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle's head coach, said in the release.

"Not only is this the first time that our team has traveled outside of the U.S. in the history of De La Salle's football program, but we will be playing athletes trained by a world-class NFL coaching staff. It will be a great experience that will test our players and give them some unforgettable memories."

De La Salle is an impressive team that has just won its 31st North Coast Championship consecutively. It also won the CIF Division 1-AA in Northern California last season.

Consequently, the team appeared in the state championship game for the second time consecutively. Their opening game for this season against Grant Union High School from Sacramento is at home in Concord on August 30.

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets headline the NFL's international slate

Aaron Rodgers' Jets are the early 3.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbooks to win the game. They will meet the Vikings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

This matchup was part of the NFL's release of four international games for the season. Two of the four games are in London, and the outdoor events are in Germany.

During his time with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers accumulated 17 wins, 11 losses and a tie against the Vikings. He lately switched to the Jets but suffered a left Achilles tendon tear in the first match.

Aaron Rodgers is ready to return soon and is fully part of the team's workouts. The new training camp will begin with a "Monday Night Football" game against the 49ers, NFC champion, on September 9. The 49ers are marked as a favorite by 5.5 points in this game.

An international schedule is the NFL's early season schedule reveal. It includes games like the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.