According to The Athletic, UEFA has responded to queries regarding its draw policies after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) stated that its request to avoid being drawn against Israel in future competitions was rejected. UEFA said that decisions on whether to separate two national teams in a draw are made on a case-by-case basis, considering specific circumstances and security risks.

FAI CEO David Currell stated on Friday that the FAI had asked UEFA to separate Ireland and Israel in future competition draws. The two teams have already been drawn into Group B3 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League and will face each other twice during the upcoming international breaks, with matches scheduled for September 27 and October 4.

Currell said that UEFA informed them the request could not be granted, citing that there has "never been a direct conflict between the two nations." He stated that the decision was based on this criterion rather than "public sentiment."

In response, UEFA told The Athletic: "UEFA deals with each situation carefully based on its specific circumstances and continuously monitors all facts and developments."

A UEFA spokesperson further explained: "When deciding whether to avoid drawing certain teams against each other, we consider multiple factors, especially whether the situation between the two countries poses a structural security risk." Reports also indicate that UEFA emphasized that such decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis and primarily based on security factors.

Ireland and Israel are in Group B3 of the Nations League, and their matches have already sparked sporting and political discussions in Ireland. Ireland's home match, originally scheduled for October 4, has been moved to a neutral venue in Serbia and will be played behind closed doors. Under UEFA's Nations League regulations, if there are security or other issues with a match, UEFA has the right to change the venue, stadium, date, or kick-off time.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) responded by saying that questions about whether a formal request was made should be directed to UEFA, and that their current focus is on professional preparation and achieving their goals on the field.

Due to security concerns, Israel has not hosted any UEFA-sanctioned matches at home since October 2023. Israel's nominal home match against Ireland will take place on September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary. The latest official UEFA schedule lists two matches: Israel vs. Ireland on September 27 and Ireland vs. Israel on October 4.

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