The UNC football program formally announced its participation in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Wednesday at the Kenan Football Center. Representing UNC at the event were chancellor Lee Roberts, athletic director Bubba Cunningham and head football coach Bill Belichick. They were joined by dignitaries from both the Republic of Ireland and Aer Lingus, including Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blaine.
Here are Belichick’s complete comments, starting with an opening statement. The comments have been lightly edited for clarity.
Thank you Bubba, Chancellor. Thank you for making this happen. We’re very excited about the opportunity to go to Ireland. I’ve been involved in several international games in my career and a lot of other big games. I participated in 12 Super Bowls, which are very memorable. But I think the international games [in the NFL with the New England Patriots] are some of the other most memorable games that I’ve been in. I know I speak for our staff, players and coaches who also made those trips. So I’m excited for our team. I was in Mexico once, London twice and Germany. And all those trips were very special.
They were special for those of us that work together on them and the memories that we took from the games as well, and just the overall experience. It’s hard for student-athletes, or football players in our case, to have those kinds of experiences due to their schedule, particularly for six months from the start of training in July until the end of December or whenever the season goes until. So this is very unique, and we announced it to the team yesterday. There was tremendous excitement. But as Bubba said, we have the 2025 season ahead of us. We’re looking forward to that first, but we’re certainly excited to be a participant in next year’s game in Ireland. So thank you again for the opportunity. We appreciate it and we look forward to it.
On the value of this game to his team: It’s just a very unique opportunity and experience for all of us. Playing abroad is different. The fans are different, the environment’s different. But it prepares you for any other situation that can come up in any other neutral-site game. Fortunately our staff has done a lot of these, so I’m sure that everything will go smoothly as it always has. We had a little bit of issues in Mexico, but otherwise, not too bad. But like I said, it’s a great experience. You remember a lot of the big games and then you remember the international games. Everybody will be watching. It will give us a great opportunity to see where we are at that point.
It’s just a unique and great opportunity from a football standpoint. You have a new environment and that change always brings a little higher focus, a little higher detail, and certainly extensive planning. But for the student-athletes and for all of us, it’s just a great experience. The fans and the environment and the newness of it are unique. Those games stand out so specially to me. They were just different. It’s not like playing in the other stadiums that we play in. I don’t know if you cam put a price tag on it, but it’s just great. It’s great to be a part of, and you remember the things that you did in those places with your teammates or the other people that were on the trip. And I think that always bonds you a little bit tighter with the people that you experienced them with.
On his team’s reaction, despite the possibility that many may not be with the Tar Heels in 2026: We wanted to notify the team before it was announced publicly. I think that was the right thing to do. It was a great decision. We appreciate that opportunity. But yeah, they’re very excited. A lot of our players haven’t traveled even nationally, let alone internationally. Some have, but a lot of them haven’t. Again, it’s just a very unique opportunity. And you’re right, there’ll be turnover on the team, like there is on every team. So that’s just part of the process.
On the logistical challenges of playing an international game: A big part of it is the equipment. We take a lot of stuff with us. And then making sure that everything is as routine as possible for the team. Working backwards, so from gameday to the day before the game, to two days before the game and so forth. The food and meetings and practice or walkthroughs and just the acclimation to the field, the grass, the turf, the scoreboard, the 40-second clock, all those things are just part of the process, kind of like a checklist. And like I said, we’ve been through those many times, but to have great partners like this will make it go very smoothly.
And there might be a couple things we might have to adjust to, but that’s part of travel anyway. It was the same way in the NFL. It wasn’t like we were playing a team that was at home abroad. Both teams traveled, so we’ll figure out whatever we have to figure out.
On some of his strongest memories from past international trips: Two of the most memorable parts of those trips were practices. The first time we went to London, we practiced in a cricket stadium. Most of us didn’t even know what cricket was, or why it was so circular. That was pretty interesting. And then the next time we skipped the cricket stadium and we practiced in Hyde Park, so we set out the cones on the field and we practiced right there in the middle of Hyde Park. People were walking by, walking their dogs and doing their thing and all that. It’s one of probably the most interesting practice we’ve ever had.
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‘A Very Unique Opportunity’: Read Bill Belichick’s Comments on UNC Football’s Trip to Ireland Chapelboro.com.
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