Ireland national team confirms Nations League matches against Israel despite boycott pressure

The Irish national team will play well in its two Nations League matches against Israel. “We organized a vote within the team” and a “significant majority” of players voted for the matches to take place as planned, announced the president of the Federation, David Courell, during a press conference organized on Saturday September 26.

The first confrontation will be played in Debrecen (Hungary), Sunday September 27. The second in Backa Topola (Serbia), on October 4. Irish coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said a player, whose name was not given, had decided to withdraw from the team for these matches.

In recent days, pressure for a boycott has intensified in Ireland to protest the war in Gaza. “No one is comfortable with playing these matches, for many reasons,” said Heimir Hallgrimsson. “We’re trying to handle this the best way we can.”

“What satisfies us today is that football has won,” responded the Israeli Football Federation in a press release. “Those who definitely lost today are those who wanted to intimidate, divide and turn the football field into a political arena.”

No handshakes between players

For Sunday's meeting, the "Boys in Green" (the nickname of the Irish players) will wear a black armband "for all the lives lost in this Israeli-Palestinian conflict", and there will be no handshakes or exchange of pennants before kick-off.

The question of Sunday's football match comes days after public television RTE announced that Dublin would boycott the Eurovision song contest again in 2027, due to Israel's participation.

And if RTE cannot reproduce such a scenario in football, since it is contractually obliged to broadcast the matches, it announced that Sunday's match in Debrecen would be broadcast without commentary. The FAI has also waived its quota of tickets for its supporters.

Dublin officially recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, with Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly condemned the war in Gaza.