September 27, 2026
Ireland will play against Israel – after a major debate within the team
תמונה: התאחדות הכדורגל האירית
Israel and Ireland will play tonight in the Nations League.
The game will take place in Debrecen, Hungary.
In recent months, there were calls in Ireland for the team not to play against Israel due to the war in Gaza.
Over 160 Irish sports figures signed a letter calling on the players to boycott the game.
Yesterday, the debate reached the team itself.
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The players talked amongst themselves for several hours and then held a vote. A large majority of the players decided to proceed with the game against Israel. Due to the discussions, the team also postponed its training and press conference.
But one of the team's goalkeepers decided not to play. He left the squad and said he believes it is not right to participate in the game. He said he opposes the killing of innocent people. He also emphasized that his decision is not directed against the Israeli people or Jews.
The Irish team will play with a black armband in memory of all those killed in the conflict. The players will also not shake hands with the Israeli players before the match. The Israeli Football Association said it welcomes the decision to play and that football should be separated from politics.