The TCU spirit will be heading to Dublin in August. Photo: Sam Wasson/Getty Images
The Horned Frogs are jumping the pond to open the 2026 football season in Dublin.
Why it matters: The sporting event gives TCU a chance to advertise itself — and Fort Worth — internationally.
Driving the news: The TCU football team will play North Carolina on Aug. 29, 2026, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, university officials announced yesterday.
The game will be the first time either team has played abroad.
Context: 2026 will be a big year for the Horned Frogs on the international stage. The campus is designated as a training site for next year's FIFA World Cup.
The big picture: Ireland has sporadically hosted American college football games since the late 1980s but has held the Aer Lingus College Football Classic annually since 2022.
The initiative is similar to the NFL's attempt to grow an international audience. The league hosted five international games last year and plans to host seven this season.
What we're watching: The Horned Frogs also open this season against the Tar Heels. They play Sept. 1 — the only Labor Day football game — in North Carolina.
