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Tar Heels
April 17th 2026
Match set for 28th August in Dublin's Tolka Park
Article courtesy of GoHeels.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina women's soccer team will travel to Dublin, Ireland to play Shelbourne FC on August 28, the day before UNC's football program will play TCU in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
The back-to-back matchups will showcase the UNC brand internationally and provide a unique experience for Tar Heel student-athletes and fans. The Carolina women's soccer team will face the Reds at Tolka Park at 7 p.m. IST, and its trip to the Emerald Isle will mark the program's first international trip as a team since 2011, when it visited Germany for the World Cup, which included a pair of matches against Leipzig and Bayern Leverkusen.
"We're incredibly excited for the opportunity to take our program to Ireland this fall and compete against Shelbourne FC," UNC women's soccer head coach Damon Nahas said. "It presents a special opportunity for our team and university to have this experience alongside the football program. It will also be meaningiful to share this experience with a former Tar Heel, Maggie Pierce, on Shelbourne - those connections are what make Carolina women's soccer so special. We're grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to what's to come for UNC football and women's soccer in Ireland."
Shelbourne FC is a member of the League of Ireland Premier Division and currently holds a 3-0-1 record to start the season. The Reds will provide experienced, high-level competition for the Tar Heels as they gear up for the ACC season. Most recently, Shelbourne FC won the 2024 FAI Women's Cup and 2025 FAI Women's President's Cup while finishing as league runner-up in three consecutive seasons.
"We're absolutely delighted to welcome the University of North Carolina women's team to Shelbourne FC for what promises to be a fantastic occasion," Shelbourne FC CEO Tomás Quinn said. "It's a great opportunity for our players and for supporters to enjoy a unique fixture showcasing the continued growth of the women's game here in Ireland. We very much look forward to welcoming them to Dublin and to Tolka Park."
The Tar Heels will also see a familiar face during their trip abroad. UNC alumna Maggie Pierce is currently a midfielder on the Shelbourne FC roster. Pierce returned to the club after a stint with the USL team Carolina Ascent. As a Tar Heel, the midfielder made 80 appearances over the course of her career while helping the team advance to the College Cup in 2019 and 2022.
Tickets to the women's soccer game between UNC and Shelbourne FC can be purchased at Shelbournefc.ie.
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