Republic of Ireland to face Israel at neutral venue after boycott calls over Middle East conflict

WorldFootball
12 Jun 2026 • 7:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Republic of Ireland to face Israel at neutral venue after boycott calls over Middle East conflict

  • The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland's Nations League match against Israel will be relocated to a neutral venue and played behind closed doors.
  • The fixture, originally scheduled for 4 October at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, received approval from UEFA for its relocation.
  • The FAI cited “operational challenges” that could impact the game's delivery on home soil as the reason for moving it away from the Aviva Stadium.
  • This decision comes amid growing calls within Ireland for a boycott of the game due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, following previous protests during a friendly match against Qatar.
  • Israel's home match against the Republic of Ireland, scheduled for a week earlier, is also set to take place at a neutral location.

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