The UEFA has stated that Ireland and Israel will not be separated in future lotteries, as this is evaluated with a focus on safety. This decision comes amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the surrounding political debate. The Ierse voetbalbond has supported a motion to exclude Israel from European competitions, which received a majority vote in 2025.
The Ierse bondscoach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, has stated that "We play against genocide", referring to the upcoming match against Israel. This statement has been met with criticism from the Israëlische voetbalbond. The Ierse voetbalbond has also received an open letter from over 160 Irish sportspeople calling for a boycott. This has put the Ierse elftal in a difficult position, as a boycott could lead to significant financial and sporting problems for the FAI.
The UEFA's decision to prioritize safety in future lotteries has been seen as a pragmatic approach by some, but others have criticized it as lacking moral grandeur. The Ierse sportjournalist Ken Early has stated that "Afreizen is niet hetzelfde als goedkeuring", emphasizing that playing a match does not necessarily mean that Ireland supports Israel's policies. The Ierse voetbalbond's decision to support the motion to exclude Israel from European competitions has been seen as a reflection of the complex and sensitive nature of the situation.
The Ierse elftal will face Israel in a double-header in the Nations League, with the first match taking place in Hungary on Sunday and the return match in Serbia a week later. Both matches have been relocated to neutral locations due to safety concerns.