Ireland will play Israel in Serbia in October

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixture with Israel on October 4th will be held in Serbia, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed.

In a statement on Monday, the organisation confirmed the match will be played behind closed doors in the town of Backa Topola, in the north of the country.

The decision came amid the prospect of major protests around the fixture because of Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Middle East.

The FAI said the decision to move the game was taken by their board: “Due to operational challenges that could impact the delivery of the game on home soil.”

The first fixture, the away game, on September 27th, is scheduled to take place at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary.

Campaigners and some opposition politicians had called for an overall boycott of both fixtures.

The organisation said it will update its 2026 FAI Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members regarding compensation owed as a result of the changes.

The team is also scheduled to play Kosovo and Austria as part of the tournament, with their campaign opening in the Kosovan capital of Pristina on September 24th.

Earlier this month, the FAI confirmed UEFA had approved its request to hold the home fixture overseas.

In a statement on June 12th, the organisation said: “The 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.”

It said the Palestinian Football Association had 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”.

The FAI added it is “deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza”.