The Republic of Ireland will play Israel in a Nations League fixture in Hungary on Sunday following a squad vote, though Bolton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn in protest. The decision came after a week of domestic pressure and internal deliberations over the match, with the Irish Football Association facing calls to boycott due to Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The squad voted by significant majority to proceed with the match after the players spent approximately nine hours in discussions across Saturday. As a show of protest, the Irish players will wear black armbands in recognition of lives lost in the conflict and will decline to participate in the pre-match handshake and pennant exchange. Bazunu explained his withdrawal as a matter of conscience, stating he believes participating would be wrong given the killing of civilians, whilst head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson addressed criticism over his earlier remarks about "playing against genocide" and clarified that playing the match does not constitute support for the situation in Gaza.