Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in a Nations League match held in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 27, 2026. The match was initially uncertain due to political tensions, with one Irish player withdrawing in protest against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. During the Israeli national anthem, the Irish team bowed their heads and did not shake hands with their opponents, a customary gesture before international matches. The Irish players wore black armbands to honor those killed in Israel's military operations in Gaza.
David Courell, the chief executive of the Irish Football Association (FAI), stated that a significant majority of the squad voted to proceed with the match despite public opposition. However, reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu opted out of the squad for this match and another against Israel during the international break.
In the match, Troy Parrott scored the first goal for Ireland in the 14th minute, followed by Adam Idah two minutes later, and Jack Moylan added a third goal in the 25th minute. The game was played in a largely empty stadium, with only a few hundred Israeli fans and a handful of Irish supporters present. The FAI did not reserve tickets for Irish fans, and public broadcaster RTE aired the match without the usual halftime analysis.
Ireland has historically supported the Palestinian cause and recognized a Palestinian state in 2024. The country has criticized Israel regarding the Gaza conflict, which escalated following a Hamas raid into Israel on October 7, 2023, that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, leading to Israel's military response that has reportedly killed over 73,000 in Gaza. Ireland's next Nations League match, originally set for Dublin on October 4, has been relocated to Backa Topola, Serbia, due to security concerns and will be played behind closed doors.