The duel between Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and Nantucket High School is usually played on the home field of each team, but this is the first time that the duel will be played at a different venue. And what a venue: The 44th Island Cup begins on November 26 at 5 p.m. at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

The rivalry between Vineyard and Nantucket dates back to the late 1950s, before the Island Cup came into play in 1978. High school athletic director Mark McCarthy said the teams’ hard-fought matchup was one of the reasons the Island Cup piqued Fenway’s interest – Vineyard has won 22 Island Cups to date, Nantucket 21.

McCarthy, who participated in the first-ever Island Cup in his senior year, said the high school students are looking forward to the duel at Fenway Park.

“Obviously it’s a big excitement to play at Fenway,” he said. “It’s like the Super Bowl – a whole different atmosphere.”

This year’s venue will require a lot more planning than all previous Island Cups – McCarthy said it hasn’t been decided who will be considered the home team. Both teams will also sit on the same sideline, which will mean more careful communication between coaches and players.

“Coaches have to communicate plays and signals to the team and clarify what plays are going to be run…Coach (Tony Mottola) has to clarify some of those details about communication,” McCarthy noted.

Another big advantage of being a major league host is that the Fenway Group gives 25 percent of ticket sales to each team. And McCarthy expects a high number of visitors. “We expect a lot of people, and many from the Boston area.”

Tickets cost $20 each.