Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Earn #2 Overall Seed For NCAA Tournament

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team was selected as the No. 2 overall seed and earned a bid into the NCAA Championship for the 24th time in program history. 

The Irish will host the winner of Xavier and Kentucky in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Alumni Stadium. The match will air on ESPN+. The tournament bracket was unveiled on Monday afternoon.

To purchase tickets for the second round match, click here.

The Irish have earned a top-16 national seed for the 15th time in their history. This marks the first time in program history that Notre Dame has earned the No. 2 seed. 

Notre Dame (11-2-4) is making its fourth NCAA Championship appearance under McFarland Family Men’s Head Soccer Coach Chad Riley. The Irish will be playing in the NCAA Championship for the 20th time in the last 23 seasons.

The Irish are 21-20-5 (.511) all-time in NCAA Championship play. Notre Dame has advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 on 11 occasions, the national quarterfinals five times (2006, 2007, 2013, 2018, 2021), the College Cup twice (2013, 2021) and claimed the national championship during the program’s inaugural NCAA College Cup appearance in 2013.

Notre Dame has faced eight other qualifiers this season, entering 2023 NCAA tournament play. Of the 16 teams to earn national seeds, the Irish have faced five of the programs.

The ACC led all conferences for most teams in the field, seeing nine affiliate teams earn berths into the 2023 NCAA Championship field. Along with No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 UNC, No. 7 Virgina, No. 9 Clemson, No. 10 Wake Forest, No. 15 Duke, Louisville, Syracuse and Pitt are set to represent the conference on the road toward the NCAA College Cup in Louisville.

Following Thursday’s first round and Sunday’s second round games, the NCAA Championship continues with third round matchups on Nov. 25 or 26 at campus sites. The national quarterfinals will follow on Dec. 1 or 2 at campus venues. The 2023 NCAA College Cup will be contested on Dec. 8 (national semifinals) and Dec. 11 (national final) at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, live on ESPNU.