Ireland confirms Nations League game against Israel will go ahead

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed the Nations League game against Israel on Sunday will go ahead after a player vote.

Doubt was cast on the fixture in Hungary taking place after the Republic of Ireland's men's football news conference and a scheduled training session were both delayed on Saturday morning.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the FAI confirmed the game would go ahead.

"The association made this decision following consultation with the Republic of Ireland players who shared different views and a majority expressed that the fixtures should be played," the statement read.

"The association respects the views of all players involved and appreciates the level of sensitivity concerning these fixtures."

The decision came amid campaigners calling for an overall boycott because of the war in Gaza.

Reports claimed a player statement would be released before the news conference, amid speculation that a player had refused to play in the match.

In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, FAI CEO David Courell said: "This ​morning, a player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad.

"Ultimately, within the last maybe 90 ​minutes, we carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment ⁠on fulfilling the fixtures and it was a ⁠significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue.

"So based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football ‌that this fixture would continue as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures."

If the Republic team had refused to play the game, due to kick-off at 7.45pm on Sunday, they could have been subject to warnings or fines from UEFA.

Ireland has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza.

There have been numerous protests in the country calling for the team not to fulfil the fixtures with Israel after the teams were drawn together in February.

In November, Football Association of Ireland (FAI) members voted for its board to request that UEFA suspend Israel from European competitions.

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But a motion in favour of going ahead with the fixtures was passed at an FAI meeting in July.

All of Israel's home games are scheduled to take place in Debrecen. Ireland also moved their home fixture - on 4 October - to Serbia, where the game will be played behind closed doors.

Last week, Hallgrimsson used the word "genocide" in a news conference. The Israeli FA responded by calling his remarks stupid and ignorant.

Israel has strongly rejected any allegations of genocide during the conflict.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ireland confirms Nations League game against Israel will go ahead