Ireland to Face Israel in Nations League Amid Boycott Calls

The Republic of Ireland meet Israel twice in Uefa Nations League Group B3, with both games moved to neutral venues and no fans in attendance for the 'home' match.

The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to meet Israel twice in Uefa Nations League Group B3. The away fixture is set for Debrecen, Hungary on September 27, and the 'home' fixture follows on October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia, played behind closed doors. Irish supporters have no tickets available for the game in Hungary.

The Football Association of Ireland committed to playing both matches shortly after February's draw in Brussels placed Ireland alongside Israel, Austria and Kosovo. The FAI argued that forfeiting Nations League points could damage Ireland's prospects of qualifying for Euro 2028, which the country will co-host, as well as future World Cups.

The fixtures have drawn boycott calls over the war in Gaza. A United Nations independent international commission found Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a charge the Israeli government denies. According to UN figures cited in the report, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war that followed the October 7 attacks, in which around 1,200 people were killed and roughly 250 taken hostage by Hamas.

Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters: 'We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel.' The Israel Football Association responded by accusing him of 'stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.' Former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane wrote in the Irish Times that going ahead with the games would leave a 'stain' on the FAI.

Uefa approved moving Ireland's home fixture from Dublin to the neutral Serbian venue for safety reasons, but rejected an FAI request to keep the two nations apart in future draws. A Uefa spokesperson said such decisions consider whether conditions between the countries create structural security risks. Meanwhile, Irish broadcaster RTE will carry minimal coverage of both matches, using the international commentary feed with no studio presentation.