Ireland’s Nations League Path: Israel, Austria, and Kosovo Await
The Republic of Ireland will face Israel, Austria, and Kosovo in Group B3 of the 2026 UEFA Nations League, following today’s draw in Brussels. The announcement comes with a backdrop of ongoing debate regarding Ireland’s stance on competing against Israel, a situation the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has addressed, confirming they will fulfil their fixtures.
Navigating a Complex Political Landscape
The draw presents both sporting and political challenges. Last year, Basketball Ireland faced a similar dilemma when drawn against Israel, ultimately deciding to proceed with the match. The FAI’s decision follows a motion proposed in 2025 to request the suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions, a motion that was submitted to UEFA in November 2025. But, UEFA regulations stipulate that refusing to play a match could lead to forfeiture and further disciplinary action, including disqualification.
League B Landscape: A Competitive Group
Ireland finds itself in a challenging League B group alongside Austria, Kosovo, and Israel. The competition will unfold across six fixtures between September and November. The draw follows a previous Nations League campaign where Ireland faced England, Greece, and Finland, ultimately needing a play-off victory over Bulgaria to maintain their League B status.
Other League B Groups
League B is comprised of four groups:
- Group 1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia
- Group 2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland
- Group 3: Israel, Austria, Ireland, Kosovo
- Group 4: Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden
Looking Ahead: Friendlies and World Cup Preparation
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side has already scheduled friendlies in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, should they qualify. A home game against Qatar on May 28th and an away match against Canada on June 6th are planned as part of their build-up.
League A and C Draws
The draw also determined the groups for League A and League C:
League A
- Group 1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkiye
- Group 2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece
- Group 3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia
- Group 4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales
League C
- Group 1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino
- Group 2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia/Gibraltar (play-off winner)
- Group 3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova
- Group 4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembough/Malta (play-off winner)
FAQ
Q: Will Ireland play their Nations League matches against Israel?
A: Yes, the FAI has confirmed they will fulfil their fixtures against Israel.
Q: What league are Northern Ireland in for the Nations League?
A: Northern Ireland will compete in League B, in Group 2 alongside Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia.
Q: When will the Nations League matches take place?
A: The matches will be played from September to November.
Q: What are the potential opponents for Northern Ireland?
A: Northern Ireland could face Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.
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