UNC to open 2026 football season against TCU with game in Ireland

North Carolina football will be going international in 2026.

The Tar Heels will open the 2026 football season against Texas Christian in Dublin, Ireland, it was announced Tuesday by UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

Bill Belichick’s first season as UNC’s head coach begins with a game against TCU at Kenan Stadium on Sept 1, 2025. But an agreement was reached to move the Aug. 29, 2026 season-opening game against TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin.

Cunningham, in a statement, said the game would be an opportunity for the players to enjoy a “terrific educational and cultural experience while showcasing the Carolina brand internationally.”

UNC will be the fourth ACC team to play a game in Ireland, joining Georgia Tech, Florida State and Boston College.

Georgia Tech and FSU opened the 2024 season in Ireland, the Yellow Jackets upsetting the No. 10 Seminoles at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The Yellow Jackets won 24-21 on Aidan Birr’s 44-yard field goal as time expired.

UNC offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens was among those Tuesday posting about the Ireland game on social media.

This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "UNC to open 2026 football season against TCU with game in Ireland."

Chip Alexander

The News & Observer

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In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.