DUBLIN (AP) 鈥� Ireland鈥檚 home game against Israel in the Nations League will be played behind closed doors in Serbia, the Irish soccer federation confirmed Monday.
The Football Association of Ireland that the Oct. 4 match would be played at a neutral site and it has now revealed that will be the TSC Arena in Ba膷ka Topola, in northern Serbia.
The venue change has been approved by European soccer鈥檚 governing body, UEFA.
The teams will also meet on Sept. 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, for Israel鈥檚 鈥渉ome鈥� game.
There had been calls for Ireland to boycott the matches against Israel. At a recent home friendly against Qatar, Irish activists in protest. The balls had 鈥淪top the Game鈥� messages on them, referring to the Nations League matches against .
Ireland’s federation has argued that boycotting the games could damage its chances of qualifying for the , which Ireland is co-hosting with Britain.
The federation added it had previously called on UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions 鈥� in protest of Israel鈥檚 .
Neither Ireland nor Israel qualified for the .
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
