The North Carolina women’s soccer team is set to embark on its first international tour in fifteen years, landing in Dublin for an exhibition match against Shelbourne FC on August 28 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. The fixture represents a milestone for the Tar Heels, who have not played abroad since the early 2000s, and it arrives as part of a broader effort to forge ties with Irish football institutions.
A Milestone Match in Dublin
Coach Damon Nahas brings a personal connection to the encounter, having previously mentored Shelbourne midfielder Maggie Pierce during her development years. Pierce, who helped UNC reach the Women’s College Cup in 2019 and 2022, signed with the Irish club in December after stints in the USL and a brief spell with the Reds in 2023 and 2024, adding a narrative thread that intertwines past and present.
The match is embedded in a whirlwind week for the Tar Heels, who will first travel to face No. 10 Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, then host No. 7 Michigan State at 1 p.m. Sunday before heading to Dublin. Adding pressure, the team will lose defender Aven Alvarez and midfielder Hope Munson after the Michigan State game, forcing a rapid adjustment to a packed schedule.
Beyond the senior squad, several players are slated to feature in other international competitions. Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark, a former UNC star, will join the U‑20 Women’s World Cup roster in Poland, where the team is scheduled to play Italy in Lodz between September 6 and 27.
Shelbourne FC arrives in strong form, sitting second in the League of Ireland Premier Division with a 9‑5‑1 record and recent triumphs in the 2024 FAI Women’s Cup and the 2025 FAI Women’s President’s Cup. Their home ground, Tolka Park, accommodates 6,450 spectators and is expected to draw a sizable crowd for the historic encounter.
The tour is not merely a one‑off event; it is positioned as a springboard for future European fixtures and a means to spotlight UNC’s growing soccer program on the global stage. Following the Dublin match, the team will head to Arizona for two September fixtures before resuming ACC play on September 10, signaling a busy but promising stretch ahead.