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Just months after lobbying for the Israeli national football team to be banned from UEFA, Ireland have agreed to play Israel this fall in Nations League matches.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has just approved a motion calling for Israel to be excluded from UEFA in November. The FAI joined the football federations of Norway and Turkey in calling for Israel to be banned, citing that country’s war in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also made a similar appeal. The motions were ultimately defeated.
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Israeli fans wave flags as they cheer on their team in warm-ups before the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Europe Zone Group I soccer match between Norway and Israel on October 11, 2025 in Oslo, Norway. (Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT)
The FAI has not issued a statement on its willingness to face Israel after calling for the team to be banned in the fall.
“In 2025, a motion was proposed by the members of the FAI General Assembly to vote on sending a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israeli Football Federation from UEFA competitions for violation of the UEFA statutes,” the FAI wrote.
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Conor Coventry of the Republic of Ireland in action against Oscar Gloukh of Israel during the UEFA European U21 Championship second round match between Israel and the Republic of Ireland at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“Members then voted in favor of submitting the motion to UEFA, which the association did in November 2025. Although consultations took place with UEFA officials, the association recognizes that UEFA regulations provide that if an association refuses to play a match, that match will be forfeited and further disciplinary action could follow, including possible disqualification from the competition.”
The two countries were reunited on Thursday in Group B3 of the Nations League.
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Dublin, Ireland – September 6, 2025; Republic of Ireland supporters make their feelings known as they protest against Israel ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F qualifying match between the Republic of Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
UEFA is apparently heading towards a vote to suspend Israel about the war in Gaza in September, but the motion was paused. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that no action would be taken against the team on October 3, following a historic peace proposal from President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Irish soccer fans have been protesting Israel’s participation in various sports leagues since the Hamas attack on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023. Irish protesters held signs reading “Ban Israel from UEFA and FIFA” and “Israel is a terrorist state” during a demonstration in Dublin on October 4, 2025, just days before the second anniversary of the attack and at other locations across the country later in the year.
Irish football fans were also seen holding signs reading “Show Israel the red card” during a match against Hungary in September.
