Ireland-Israel match moved to Serbia to be played behind closed doors

The Football Association of Ireland announced that the UEFA Nations League match against Israel will be moved from Dublin and played in Serbia on October 4 without spectators. The decision was made due to operational difficulties affecting the match's staging in Ireland.

Scraper SystemJune 30, 2026, 10:04 AM

Ireland-Israel match moved to Serbia to be played behind closed doors

The Football Association of Ireland announced the relocation of the match between Ireland and Israel, which will be played as part of the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League. The match will take place on Sunday, October 4, at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia, behind closed doors.

In an official statement from the association, it was said that the decision was made on the recommendation of the board of directors due to operational difficulties that could affect the match being played in Ireland. UEFA also approved the request to play at a neutral venue.

It was noted that the kickoff time for the match will be clarified in the coming days.

Decision finalized after protests in Dublin

In a statement on June 12, the Football Association of Ireland had announced that the match would not be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and that UEFA had accepted the request for a neutral venue.

This development came after demonstrations held in the capital Dublin and calls to boycott the match, aimed at protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Association insists on playing despite boycott calls

Despite all calls for a boycott, the Football Association of Ireland refused to decide not to play the fixture. The association argued that withdrawing from the match would result in "significant negative consequences" for Irish football. It was emphasized that these consequences included a loss of six points, which could affect the team's European and world rankings.

Ireland-Israel match moved to Serbia to be played behind closed doors