Ireland to host Israel at neutral venue without fans

The Football Association of Ireland said on Friday that UEFA has approved its request to move its Nations League match against Israel on October 4 to a neutral venue and hold it behind closed doors. The game will not be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with the decision taken after consultations that concluded operational challenges could make staging the fixture in Ireland difficult.

In its statement, the Irish federation said it understood and respected the views expressed by players, staff, fans and members of the Irish community about the match. It also said it had been in contact with the Palestinian Football Association over recent months, and that the Palestinian association welcomed Ireland’s stated support for Palestinian rights and athletes, while noting Ireland’s decision to act within its sporting and international obligations.

The federation added that it is aware of the suffering and destruction affecting civilians in Gaza. It said this reflects the spirit of a resolution adopted at its general assembly in November 2025, which asked its executive committee to seek UEFA action to suspend the Israeli association from competitions over alleged violations of UEFA rules.

The Irish federation also said that, although the request and consultations with UEFA representatives have been ongoing for almost two years, it recognizes UEFA competition regulations requiring teams that refuse to play to forfeit the match and face further disciplinary measures, including possible expulsion from the competition. Ireland was drawn in February 2026 into Nations League Group B3 with Austria, Israel and Kosovo, and said at the time it would continue with all scheduled matches because any other decision would have significantly affected Irish football.