In November 2023, the University of Wisconsin Athletics announced that the Wisconsin Badgers would play their season opener against Pittsburgh in Ireland in 2027. This will mark the team’s second time playing a game on international soil. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, will host the season opening on August 28, 2027.
Following the announcement, the University of Wisconsin’s director of athletics, Chris McIntosh, stated that the opportunity to play at the season’s opening in Ireland in 2027 is exciting for the team, their families, and the entire fan base of the Wisconsin Badgers. He added that traveling to another country to play against a renowned opponent is a privilege the team will not take for granted. He emphasized that the Wisconsin Badgers are eagerly looking forward to the event.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, Catherine Martin TD, expressed her excitement about hosting the University of Wisconsin in Dublin in 2027 in a statement. The first time the Wisconsin Badgers played on international soil was in 1993, in a 41-20 win over Michigan State. This event occurred during the Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.
