Heel Tough Blog: UNC to Play TCU in Ireland in 2026

The 2025 football season is still to come, but Tar Heel fans can begin to look ahead to the 2026 season. It was announced earlier today that the Tar Heels will open up the 2026 season overseas in Ireland in a game against TCU. This will mark the first time ever that Carolina Football has competed internationally, and they are the fourth ACC team to participate in the annual Aer Lingus Classic, joining Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. 

TCU is a proud Big 12 program, that is only two years removed from playing in the national championship game under Sonny Dykes. Of course, the Tar Heels open the 2025 season later this September at home against TCU, a game that will kick off the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill, in arguably the most anticipated home opener in program history. Next year’s season opener will be among the most anticipated as well, with the program taking the international stage. 

Bubba Cunningham took to Twitter to confirm the rumors of this taking place, and had this to say in an official statement via the GoHeels website, “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. We appreciate being chosen for this event by Aer Lingus and thank John Anthony and his staff for making this possible. 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."

The interest in Tar Heel football has increased since the Belichick hire, and the first-year head coach also released a statement, saying, “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 fans on an international stage."

The game is set for Saturday, August 29th, 2026, and will be held in Aviva Stadium