Belichick's North Carolina to play TCU in Dublin
Bill Belichick's North Carolina will play Texas Christian University in the College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium on 29 August 2026. TCU will be the designated home team for what will be the 10th college football fixture to be staged in Dublin. Neither side have played internationally before with Belichick saying that the Tar Heels "were grateful to be selected" for the trip."It's a tremendous opportunity for our program and we're excited to represent the university and our community on an international stage," he said. In an NFL coaching career that began in 1975, Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots, as well as two during his time as defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. He ended his 24-year spell in charge of the Patriots after the 2023 NFL season and, despite interviewing with the Atlanta Falcons, spent the 2024 campaign in a number of broadcast roles.In December he signed a three-year deal with North Carolina where his father, Steve Belichick, served as an assistant between1953-55.It will be the 73-year-old's first job in the college game.
The first college game to be played in Dublin was in 1988 when Boston College beat Army at the Aviva Stadium.Biennial fixtures were held between 2012 and 2016, before switching to an annual staging in 2022.This year's fixture will see Iowa State play Kent State on 23 August. Dublin will also host its first ever regular season NFL game this year with the Pittsburgh Steelers to take on an unconfirmed opponent at Croke Park.
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