UEFA Rejects Ireland Request to Avoid Israel in Draws

The Football Association of Ireland will proceed with its scheduled Nations League matches against Israel after UEFA rejected a request to keep the two nations apart in future draws, a decision that has sparked significant controversy and led to the relocation of the home fixture to Serbia. UEFA's response was unequivocal, with FAI chief executive David Courell stating that the governing body does not separate teams based on public sentiment but only on direct conflicts between nations. The FAI's home game against Israel, originally planned for Dublin, will now take place on October 4, 2026, at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia. This move was made due to operational challenges and fears that protests could disrupt the match. The first fixture is scheduled for September 27, 2026, in Debrecen, Hungary, as Israel's designated home game. In July 2026, the FAI's General Assembly voted 75-32 to support the decision to play Israel at neutral venues, following a motion that replaced an initial boycott proposal. The association had warned that not fulfilling the fixtures would cost a minimum of €5.