What to know about Bill Belichick, UNC football’s trip to Ireland in 2026

• This will be the Tar Heels’ first international game and the fourth ACC team to participate in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• Coach Bill Belichick expressed excitement about the opportunity to represent UNC on a global stage.
• Fans can find ticket and travel information at TarHeels2Ireland.com.

UNC football is going to Ireland to open the 2026 season against TCU, the university announced April 22.

The Tar Heels‘ matchup with the Horned Frogs as part of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be UNC’s first trip abroad. The game is scheduled for Aug. 26 at Aviva Stadium.

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

UNC will be the fourth team from the ACC to compete in the classic, joining Boston College, Georgia Tech and Florida State. Kansas State and Iowa State play in the 2025 edition of the event on Aug. 23.

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Tar Heel fans can visit TarHeels2Ireland.com to learn more about the game and sign up for ticket updates, including official UNC travel and hospitality packages, which will become available on May 8.

UNC and TCU kick off the 2025 season and Belichick era on Sept. 1 at Kenan Stadium.

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com. 

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