Republic of Ireland and Israel Nations League matches moved to neutral venue in 2026

The Republic of Ireland's Nations League game with Israel will be played at a neutral venue due to operational challenges and ongoing conflicts.

Neutral venue confirmed The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has announced that the Republic of Ireland’s home Nations League match against Israel scheduled for later this year will be relocated to a neutral venue. The decision follows several weeks of discussions by the FAI board regarding the ‘operational aspects’ of hosting the fixture at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 4 October. Uefa has approved a request to move the game to an overseas neutral location and to play it without spectators. The Israeli team’s home match in Group B3 on 27 September will also be held at a neutral venue. ## Decision based on operational challenges According to the FAI, consultations with stakeholders led to the conclusion that ‘operational challenges’ could hinder the successful staging of the game in Ireland. The association expressed gratitude to An Garda Síochána (the Irish police) for their ongoing support and guidance over recent months. The FAI board, with Uefa’s backing, determined that relocating the fixture was the most appropriate solution. The statement emphasized that this move was carefully considered before final approval. ## Growing pressure for boycott over Middle East conflict Calls for a boycott of the matches have intensified in Ireland amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign staged a protest at the Dáil (Irish parliament) last month to voice opposition to the fixtures. A campaign titled ‘Stop The Game’ was launched by Irish Sport For Palestine, which gained attention when tennis balls bearing the Palestine flag were thrown onto the pitch during Ireland’s 1-0 friendly win over Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in May. ## FAI committed to fulfilling fixtures Following the Nations League draw in February, the FAI confirmed it would proceed with the fixtures. Chief executive David Courell stated the governing body had ‘no choice’ and warned of ‘serious consequences’ if the games were canceled. Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman suggested the issue ‘should have been dealt with above us,’ while captain Nathan Collins added that players who wished to boycott the games would not face opposition from the team leadership. ## FAI acknowledges diverse views on the fixture The FAI acknowledged the range of opinions expressed by players, staff, supporters, members, campaigners, the public, and the Irish football community regarding the game. The association stated it ‘understands and respects the views’ shared by all parties involved. The decision to relocate the match reflects ongoing concerns and differing perspectives within Irish football and society at large.