Ireland faces Israel under the fire of Palestinian support

On Sunday, the eleven Irish who will take the field against Israel will play a highly politicised match, with Ireland showing its vigorous support for the Palestinians, a sentiment reflected by 86 % of those surveyed who believe Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, all within the framework of the Nations League.

A clash at the heart of the Nations League

Israel “hosts” Ireland this Sunday in Hungary, and the two teams will meet again on October 4 in Serbia for the second leg, where the Irish will be “at home”. No “green tide” will be visible at the Aviva Stadium, due to security concerns, and Israel’s popularity remains very low on the island.

Players in the spotlight

In a peaceful world, the match between Ireland and Israel would be talked about for Oscar Gloukh’s breathtaking form. Expectations revolve around Troy Parrott, a national hero since his brace against Portugal and his hat‑trick against Hungary. Both forwards are eager to prove their worth in this charged context.

Sharp statements

Ireland’s Icelandic manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, did not mince his words: “We do not play with genocide, we play against genocide. We play against Israel, we do not play with Israel.” He recalls the roughly 73 000 Palestinian deaths since Hamas’s attack on October 7 2023.

High tension in the Nations League as Ireland set to face Israel

Academic analysis of Irish support

“Since the early 1970s, following the Six‑Day War, Irish public opinion has generally been favourable to the Palestinian cause,” explains Marie‑Violaine Louvet, senior lecturer at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès. She notes that events in the Middle East resonate with the island’s colonial history.

According to a Sunday Independent poll published in June 2025, 86 % of Irish people believe Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, 72 % sympathise most with Palestine and only 5 % with Israel.

Ireland only gained its independence in 1922, and the memory of colonisation remains vivid. The 1916 Easter uprising, which caused more than 400 deaths, is commemorated each year, and during the centenary, 250 000 people gathered in the streets of Dublin.

Irish players reject boycott, Nations League match Israel goes ahead

The two Nations League fixtures will determine the Irish trajectory toward qualification for Euro 2028, while the political debate will continue to dominate discussions around football.