The Republic of Ireland will not face Israel at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next month. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed on Friday that the Nations League fixture, originally scheduled for 4 October, will be moved to a neutral venue behind closed doors – a decision that follows months of protests by players, fans and campaigners over the death toll in Gaza.
Israel’s home Group B3 match on 27 September is also expected to be staged at a neutral venue. The FAI said its board had held meetings in recent weeks to discuss the “operational aspects” of hosting the game, and that Uefa had approved the request to relocate it abroad.
“Republic of Ireland's Nations League match against Israel moved to neutral venue behind closed doors after protests over Gaza war.”
“Following consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil, so the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium,” the FAI said in a statement, thanking An Garda Síochána for their support and advice.
The decision came after mounting pressure. In May, a friendly victory over Qatar was twice disrupted when tennis balls bearing the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the pitch. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a protest at the Dáil last month, and the group Irish Sport For Palestine launched a “Stop The Game” campaign urging a boycott.
Players had also voiced unease. After the Nations League draw in February, FAI chief executive David Courell said the governing body had “no choice” but to fulfil the fixtures, warning of “serious consequences” if it pulled out. But last month, experienced defender Seamus Coleman said the issue “should have been dealt with above us”, while captain Nathan Collins said that if individual players felt strongly enough to boycott, “we are not going to stand against them”.
Ireland has been one of the European Union’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s war in Gaza. In late 2025, FAI members voted overwhelmingly to ask Uefa to immediately suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions. United Nations experts have also appealed to Fifa and Uefa to suspend Israel, citing a UN commission of inquiry report that said Israel had committed genocide during the war. Israel has denied committing genocide and described the report as scandalous.
Nearly 73,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The FAI said it “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 also shared a statement from the Palestinian Football Association, which “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 question now is whether the decision will stop the protests – or whether the campaign to suspend Israel entirely will gain further momentum.