Following the destruction in Gaza: Ireland's new demand against Israel

The Nations League draw pitted Israel's national team against Ireland, considered hostile. In Ireland, UEFA's threats against FIFA are being used to call for boycotting the matches, and the local workers' union supports employees who refuse to host or operate the games.

The Nations League draw for the 2026/27 season placed Israel in Group 3 of League B, where it will face Austria, Ireland, and Kosovo. The meetings with Ireland are expected to be particularly charged, given Dublin's hostile stance toward Israel since the outbreak of the war on October 7. At the height of tensions, the Irish Football Association demanded UEFA suspend Israel from international competitions. Now, following UEFA's announcement of its intention to boycott FIFA, journalists and sports activists in Ireland see this as a window of opportunity to promote a local boycott of the Israeli team. Public criticism in Ireland over holding the matches has escalated, with protests and demonstrations by fans and civil society organizations. Meanwhile, Ireland's main workers' union announced it would back any employee who refuses to take part in hosting or operating the matches against Israel, defining the move as a right to freedom of conscience. The association's leaders in Dublin have so far feared to tread the boycott path due to potential sanctions from UEFA, but columns in the Irish media argue that UEFA has lost the moral and legal authority to impose penalties on an association that acts similarly. The visits to Dublin and the hosting of the Irish are expected to take place under heavy security and in a tense atmosphere in the stands.