Dublin set for American college football clash
This week, Dublin becomes the home of American College Football as Texas Christian University’s (TCU) Horned Frogs and the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) Tar Heels face off.
The Week Zero clash, the first game of the U.S college football season kicks off on Saturday, 29 August at 5.00pm at Aviva Stadium
The Week Zero clash, the first game of the U.S college football season, kicks off on Saturday, 29 August at 5.00 pm at Aviva Stadium.
Bringing the atmosphere
Over 14,000 U.S. fans are travelling to Ireland, bringing the atmosphere of a major American sporting occasion to Ireland’s capital.
Irish fans can still be part of the game with limited tickets still available, here with student tickets starting at €50 and special family packages available in partnership with Applegreen.
TCU will face a UNC side led by head coach Bill Belichick, eight-time Super Bowl winner and one of America’s most recognisable sporting figures.
UNC’s travelling party also includes County Down native Adam McCann Gibbs, the freshman punter who could make his college football debut on home soil this Saturday.
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 4.15pm to enjoy a full-scale US game-day build up, including university marching bands and cheer squads, mascots, team traditions and a stadium filled with the energy of thousands of supporters.
Whether you are attending as a family, meeting friends for a different kind of Saturday out or simply curious to experience a big U.S. sporting spectacle in Dublin, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic offers an accessible and high-energy day out.
‘Celtic the Brave’, the official mascot of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, returns to the gridiron alongside TCU’s SuperFrog and UNC’s Rameses.
At halftime, 20 of Ireland’s elite young kickers will compete for a Golden Ticket to Chicago and the chance of a life-changing Division 1 college football scholarship in Leader Kicking’s search for Ireland’s next Kicking King.
The game is the fifth consecutive fixture in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series.
It will be broadcast in the United States on ESPN to a U.S audience of over four million and domestically in Ireland on TG4.
Padraic O’ Kane, director and co-founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic said: “If you have ever wondered what a huge American college game day feels like, this is your chance to experience it without leaving Ireland.
“The best way to take in the bands, to feel the tackles, to experience the traditions and hear the roar is inside Aviva Stadium.”
O’Kane added: “You do not need to know every rule to have a fantastic time; you just need to come ready for the colour, the noise and the fun.
“With TCU facing a Bill Belichick-led UNC and limited tickets still available, this is a Saturday people will be talking about for weeks to come.
“We want fans in the stands, to be part of the show for what will be a truly unforgettable Dublin game day.”
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become a pillar of the Irish sporting calendar and a week-long celebration of Irish-U.S. connections.
Under the banner #MuchMoreThanAGame, business, cultural, political, medical and community events will take place across Dublin throughout the week.
The city will see cowboy hats, team colours and college spirit in abundance as TCU and UNC fans gather for pep rallies, alumni events and official tailgating pubs presented by Guinness and Teeling Whiskey.
On Friday 28 August at 7.00pm, the UNC Tar Heels Women’s Soccer team will face Shelbourne FC at Tolka Park in UNC’s first international fixture since 2011.
UNC alumna Maggie Pierce is set to line out in midfield for Shelbourne FC.
As title sponsor, Aer Lingus is flying both teams, coaching staffs and delegations to Dublin on specially chartered flights.
The travelling parties include a combined 130 members of the universities’ bands and cheer squads, helping to turn the city and stadium into a celebration of American college sport.
To coincide with their 90th anniversary in business, Aer Lingus will mark the occasion with plenty of surprises throughout game day.
A full schedule and the latest information are available on the Official Game Week App.
Official 2026 merchandise is available online for delivery or click and collect, with merchandise stores open at the Merrion Square pep rallies and at Aviva Stadium during game week and on game day.
