FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU and North Carolina will open the 2026 season overseas. The teams will meet in Dublin on Aug. 29, 2026, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium. It will be the first game abroad for both programs.
The matchup was moved from an originally scheduled Sept. 5 game in Fort Worth. TCU will be the designated home team for the game in Ireland.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage,” Belichick said.
This Ireland game follows coach Bill Belichick’s debut at North Carolina this year. Their season opener this year will be on Sept. 1, when Belichick’s first game at North Carolina is against TCU on Labor Day and will be the only college or NFL game that Monday.
“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,” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said.
Ireland bound in 2026!
🗞️ https://t.co/EDZunzsj5r pic.twitter.com/tk7igBNqK5
— TCU Athletics (@TCU_Athletics) April 22, 2025
The game continues a recent trend of U.S. college teams playing in Ireland. Iowa State and Kansas State, who are in the Big 12 with TCU, will play this year’s game in Ireland on Aug. 23. Georgia Tech beat Florida State in last year’s Aer Lingus Classic.
