Texas and North Carolina college football teams to face off at Aviva

Texas Christian University (TCU) and the University of North Carolina (UNC) will open the 2026 college football season in Dublin, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

The game will be held on August 29^th, 2026, at the Aviva Stadium.

TCU, from Fort Worth, Texas will serve as the home team in Dublin against UNC who have recently appointed Bill Belichick as head football coach. Belichick is considered by many as the greatest coach in all of professional sports as he has won an NFL- record eight Super Bowls – six as a head coach for the New England Patriots and two as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. Belichick drafted and crafted superstars such as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

“We’re grateful to be selected to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our community on an international stage,” said UNC Head Football Coach Bill Belichick.

 “This is an outstanding opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to enjoy a terrific educational and cultural experience while showcasing the Carolina brand internationally,’’ said UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “We appreciate being chosen for this event and we look forward to having our alumni and fans join us in Ireland and cheer us on in person for what will be a memorable and special trip.”

 “We are extremely honored that TCU has been invited to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Buddie said. “This is more than just a football game. It’s an opportunity to advance TCU’s brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime. We thank Aer Lingus and Irish American Events for our selection and know our fans will travel very well, turning Dublin into a sea of purple.” 

“We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,” said TCU Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes. “With a good number of our players not having traveled overseas, I am most happy for them to have this opportunity and very much appreciate the Aer Lingus College Football Classic making it possible for them as well as all of TCU to share in this experience. It will be special to take the field in Dublin and for our fans to see us on this type of stage in Ireland. We have enjoyed watching past Aer Lingus College Football Classic games, and it’s a true honor for us to now play in it and kick off the 2026 college football season.”

 “I welcome the news that TCU and the University of North Carolina have been chosen to play the fifth game in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series,” said Patrick O’Donovan, Irish Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. “This event is now a firm fixture in the Irish sporting calendar. It has huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy, and our sports ecosystem and indeed creates a great atmosphere in Dublin for visitors and locals alike. We look forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters in August 2026 to the Aviva Stadium and to Dublin and beyond, as they take the opportunity of the occasion to explore other parts of Ireland.”