Uefa Rejected Football Association of Ireland Request
The governing body denied a move to separate the Republic of Ireland and Israel in future competition draws.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Soccer
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Uefa has officially rejected a request from the Football Association of Ireland to keep the Republic of Ireland and Israel teams apart in upcoming competition draws. The two nations remain scheduled to meet for Nations League fixtures this autumn.
Why it matters
Uefa denied the request on the grounds that Ireland and Israel have never been in direct conflict. The FAI previously voted to proceed with the fixtures after determining that a boycott would cause significant and lasting harm to the association.
The teams are set to play Nations League fixtures on September 27 and October 4, 2026. The October 4 match will be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, with no tickets available for Irish fans in Debrecen, Hungary.
The players
Uefa
The Union of European Football Associations serves as the administrative body for association football in Europe.
Football Association of Ireland
This is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland.
The details
Although the FAI requested that the teams be kept separate in future draws following their February grouping, the motion to proceed with these specific games was upheld by delegates during an extraordinary general meeting in July. The matches will proceed under restricted conditions, including the absence of fans for the October fixture.
Timeline
February 2026: Ireland and Israel were grouped together in the competition draw.
June 2026: The FAI confirmed that the games would occur behind closed doors.
July 2026: FAI delegates voted to proceed with the scheduled Nations League fixtures.
September 27, 2026: The first Nations League match is scheduled to take place.
October 4, 2026: The second Nations League match is scheduled to be played in Backa Topola.
Season Trajectory
This rejection maintains the status quo for the current Nations League campaign and ensures that scheduling remains unaffected by geopolitical pressure. It signals that Uefa will continue to apply its existing draw policies consistently across all member nations regardless of political lobbying.
Irish fans will be unable to attend the October 4 fixture in person, as it will be held behind closed doors. The fixtures remain active on the official Nations League schedule, maintaining the current competitive bracket for the teams involved.
The takeaway
The decision underscores the difficulty sports associations face when navigating geopolitical concerns alongside rigid international tournament regulations. Organizations must balance member pressure with the standardized governance policies mandated by continental authorities.
Further reading
For more on the latest international football developments, visit the Soccer section.
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