Republic of Ireland are set to face Israel in the Nations League on Sunday, October 4, at 7.45pm. The match will take place despite intense political scrutiny and demands within Ireland to boycott the fixture over Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chose to play the game because refusing to participate could have resulted in disciplinary action from UEFA.
Why is the match behind closed doors?
The FAI relocated Ireland's nominal "home" UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia, and barred public attendance to mitigate severe safety risks, operational disruptions, and anticipated protests surrounding the war in Gaza. The game is being held at TSC Arena with no fans permitted inside the stadium.
This fixture comes shortly after the teams previously met in the Nations League on September 27, when the Republic of Ireland secured a 3-0 triumph against Israel.
How to watch Ireland vs Israel
Conventional TV channels in the UK do not hold the broadcast rights, but supporters can watch live through Amazon Prime Video's pay-per-view platform. Access to the stream requires a single payment of £2.49, and pre-match coverage will begin 10 minutes before the 7.45pm kick-off.
Viewers in the Republic of Ireland can watch the action on RTÉ. However, the network is airing a scaled-down broadcast without a studio show and is using the international commentary feed. Supporters based in the US can stream the fixture live using FuboTV and ViX.
Team news and Nations League context
The Republic of Ireland squad features no current injury worries, though they are missing defender James Abankwah due to suspension and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who opted out for ethical reasons. On the opposing side, Israel will be without goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who is sidelined with a groin injury.
Since their win against Israel, Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad have played out a 2-2 draw with Austria, leaving them third in their Nations League group and maintaining a three-point advantage over Israel.
