DUBLIN (AP) 鈥� Ireland’s home game against Israel in the Nations League will be played at a neutral site and behind closed doors, the Irish soccer federation confirmed Friday.
The Football Association of Ireland, which faced calls by pro-Palestinian activists for a boycott, said the Oct. 4 game originally scheduled for Aviva Stadium in the Irish capital posed 鈥渙perational challenges.鈥�
At a recent home friendly against Qatar, Irish activists in protest. The balls had “Stop the Game鈥� messages on them, referring to the Nations League matches against .
The Irish federation confirmed that it received UEFA approval to move the October game. A location hasn’t been announced. The teams will also meet on Sept. 27 at a neutral site for Israel’s 鈥渉ome鈥� game.
鈥淔ollowing consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil, so the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium,鈥� it said in a statement.
鈥淭he Association understands and respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to this fixture.”
The federation reiterated its argument that boycotting the games could damage Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the , which Ireland is co-hosting with Britain.
Forfeiting six points 鈥渃ould lead to relegation to League C in the UEFA Nations League and weaken our qualifying potential for (the Euros),鈥� it said.
Ireland is likely to qualify for Euro 2028, though, with .
The four host teams 鈥� England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales 鈥� will play in separate qualifying groups from which the top two teams in each will advance to Euro 2028. UEFA will keep two more entries for co-hosts which finish third or worse in their qualifying group.
The federation also said it has been in close contact with the Palestinian Football Association, which it said expressed its appreciation “for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.鈥�
Ireland’s federation added that previously it had called on UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions 鈥� in protest of Israel鈥檚 . The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the militant group鈥檚 attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Neither Ireland nor Israel qualified for the .
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
