The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland’s home Nations League match against Israel on October 4 will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Following the draw, there had been suggestions that the game might move to a neutral venue because of security issues, but Gardaí have since indicated that those concerns are not significant enough to require a change.
FAI president Paul Cooke addressed this in a letter to the association’s general assembly members. He acknowledged that the decision would be tough for many members and supporters, and it was not made lightly.
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He added that the FAI plans to use the home match to offer real support for humanitarian efforts helping civilians impacted by the conflict, with more details to come nearer the time.
The FAI has directly communicated its position to UEFA, including after the motion passed overwhelmingly at last November’s Extraordinary General Meeting, and has kept raising those issues consistently. Still, since the draw placed the teams together, the fixtures must go ahead.
Ireland’s group also includes Israel, which led to boycott calls from several figures in Irish football such as Brian Kerr, Stephen Bradley, and Joey O’Brien.
There had been speculation about shifting the match to a neutral site due to potential protests.
For comparison, Belgium’s home game against Israel in September 2024 was moved to Debrecen, Hungary, over security worries.
The last time Ireland played Israel in Dublin was in June 2005, when they drew 2-2 in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.
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