The University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer team will travel to Dublin this summer to face Shelbourne FC Women at Tolka Park on Friday, August 28.
The fixture forms part of the wider programme surrounding the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, taking place the day before UNC Tar Heels football meet TCU Horned Frogs at the Aviva Stadium.
The match adds a women’s football dimension to the “Much More Than A Game” initiative, designed to deepen cultural and sporting links between Ireland and the United States while expanding the range of events around the headline college football fixture.
North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer arrive in Dublin as the most successful programme in NCAA Division 1 history, with 22 national titles—far ahead of any rival.
The Tar Heels’ alumni list includes some of the biggest names in global women’s football, including Mia Hamm, Tobin Heath, Crystal Dunn and Lucy Bronze.
The programme also has a track record of international competition, having previously faced top European clubs including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig during previous European visits.
The game will carry added personal resonance with Shelbourne defender Maggie Pierce set to face her former college side. Pierce made 80 appearances for UNC between 2019 and 2022 before continuing her career in the United States and moving to Dublin.
Shelbourne will provide a strong test, having secured the 2024 FAI Women’s Cup and the 2025 FAI Women’s President’s Cup, while also finishing league runners-up for three consecutive seasons.
The addition of this fixture reflects the continued expansion of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic beyond a single game, creating a multi-day sports and cultural platform.
By incorporating elite women’s football alongside NCAA Football competition, organisers are broadening audience appeal and reinforcing the event’s role in strengthening transatlantic sporting connections.
Image Credit: Aer Lingus College Football Classic
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic and Shelbourne FC mentioned in this story are full members of the Sport for Business community.
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