THE Republic of Ireland will play their contentious Nations League game with Israel (scheduled for Dublin on October 4) behind closed doors at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

The 4,500-seat venue could certainly be described as off the beaten track and it is home to Topolyai Sport Club (TSC) who play in the Serbian Premier League.

In a statement, the FAI said the decision taken to move the fixture to a neutral territory was due to “operational challenges that could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil”.

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Mass protests highlighting the ongoing conflict in the Middle East were guaranteed had the game gone ahead in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland fans threw tennis balls with the Palestinian flag on them and the slogan ‘Stop the game’ on them onto the pitch during the pre-World Cup friendly against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in May.

Irish fans and pundits have called for the game to be boycotted in response to Israel’s ongoing military actions against Palestine which a UN commission has described as genocide.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has previously condemned Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people, but he doesn’t want to boycott the autumn games, and his argument is based on footballing reasons.

The change of venue has been approved by Uefa with the kick-off time to be confirmed in due course.

This announcement completes the venue scheduling for Ireland’s upcoming Uefa Nations League campaign. It follows the confirmation that the first encounter with Israel will take place at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, September 27.

Ireland will open their campaign away to Kosovo on Thursday, September 24, before traveling to Hungary. The team will return to the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, October 1 to face Austria, prior to the fixture in Serbia.

As a result of the change of venue for the Israel fixture, the FAI will update its 2026 FAI Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members regarding compensation owed.

2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures:

Thursday, September 24: Kosovo v Ireland, Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Pristina, 7.45pm

Sunday, September 27: Israel v Ireland, Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen (Hungary), 7.45pm

Thursday, October 1: Ireland v Austria, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 7.45pm

Sunday, October 4: Ireland v Israel, TSC Arena, Bačka Topola (Serbia), TBC

Saturday, November 14: Austria v Ireland, Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, 7.45pm

Tuesday, November 17: Ireland v Kosovo, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 7.45pm