Countdown to the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic

The road to the college football season kick-off in Dublin ran through Washington, D.C. once again, as the Embassy of Ireland hosted its third annual reception highlighting the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in partnership with ESPN.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is an annual marquee NCAA Division I fixture that opens the American college football season in 'Week Zero' at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The 2026 Classic between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs is set to take place on Saturday, August 29 at 12pm (Eastern) and will be broadcast in the United States on ESPN. Over 24,000 fans are expected to travel for the game, turning the streets of Dublin purple and Carolina blue.

College football in Ireland has become one of Ireland's largest inbound tourism events, bringing over €520 million boost to the Irish economy. More than a game, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a celebration of the enduring partnership between Ireland and the United States—a two-way relationship built over generations through family, friendship, and shared values.

That connection is alive and well in both Texas and North Carolina.

Texas, famous for doing everything on a grand scale, has strong and growing ties with Ireland across business, innovation, and education. There are 40 Irish companies in Texas, employing 24,000 people. Texas also ranks second in exports to Ireland, and there are 41 research partnerships between Ireland and Texas.

North Carolina shares deep connections with Ireland through research partnerships, cultural exchange, and a vibrant Irish-American community. Nearly 1 in 10 North Carolinians claim Irish heritage, and North Carolina is the second most popular destination for Irish exports. There are currently 32 joint research initiatives between North Carolina and Ireland.

In tribute to both Texas and North Carolina’s rich (and often rival) culinary heritages, this year's Embassy reception took on a 'battle of the barbecue' theme. From Fort Worth to Chapel Hill to Capitol Hill, hundreds of guests gathered in anticipation of the return of college football and in celebration of the close relationship between Ireland and the United States.

The reception, supported by Diageo and Irish American Events, featured remarks from Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, The Walt Disney Company Executive Vice President & Head of U.S. Government Relations Susan Fox, TCU Director of Athletics Mike Buddie, and UNC Senior Associate Athletic Director Rick Steinbacher, who all reflected on the unique tradition of the game and power of sport as a uniting force for good.

Ireland's recently launched International Sports Diplomacy Strategy aims to harness this unique power of sport to bring different nations and cultures closer together and to build connections between communities around the world.

Learn more about college football in Ireland and this year's match-up here.