5:59pm The FAI already has a statement out: The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirms that the Ireland Men’s National Team will fulfil their 2026 UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel after being drawn together in Group B3.
In 2025, a motion was proposed by members of the FAI General Assembly to vote on issuing a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions for a breach of UEFA statutes. Members then voted in favour to submit the motion to UEFA, which the Association did in November 2025.
While consultation has taken place with UEFA officials, the Association does recognise that UEFA regulations outline that if an association refuses to play a match then that fixture will be forfeited and further disciplinary measures may follow – including potential disqualification from the competition.
5:58pm They’ve wrapped it up. A dignified affair. And now swiftly on to the non-footballing implications.
5:56pm And here’s how they’ve sorted out the big guns.
5:51pm John says: Let’s deal with the football side first.
Top seeds Israel sit 77 in Fifa’s rankings, Austria are the highest on 24 while the Kosovans are currently 79 in the world. Ireland moved up to 59 in the standings on the back of wins over Portugal and Hungary in November. Austria have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, set to face champions Argentina on June 22, either side of June 17 and 28.
Kosovo, like Ireland, will be involved in the playoffs to reach North America. They meet Slovakia in the semi, aiming for a final spot against either Romania or Turkey.
Israel are out of the running for World Cup qualification, finishing third in the group behind Norway and Italy.
5:50pm Pepe is looking after League A. He hasn’t yet gone to ground. “Portugal has always taken this competition very seriously, that’s why we’ve won it twice,” he reflects.
5:46pm Here’s the full League B breakdown.
5:45pm: A reminder that FAI delegates passed a motion in November requesting Uefa to ban Israel international and club teams from all European competitions on foot of violations. But FAI President Paul Cooke has said Ireland will fulfill any fixture if part of a European competition.
Israel for Ireland in Nations League…this draw just got interesting. pic.twitter.com/FZb7gL8SIw
— John Fallon (@JFallonExaminer) February 12, 2026
5:43pm John says; Israel, Austria and Kosovo for Ireland in Group B3. A 25% chance became 50% when Ireland weren’t one of the first two names drawn by Vieira. Challenging for the FAI in more ways than one. This will get interesting…
5:42pm Kosovo are the final team in Ireland’s group.
5:41pm Ireland are in with Israel and Austria in Group B3. Not the draw the FAI would have wanted.
5:40pm Scotland have the Swiss. Israel and Austria are in together. Poland with Bosnia and H.. Hungary have Ukraine.
5:35pm Ah Paddy Vieira is along to sort out League B. He might do us a favour since he’s friends with Roy these days and hopefully has forgotten that ‘why don’t you go play for them then,” Senegal jibe.
“It’s a really young competition but a really important one,” says Vieira, unscripted.
5:32pm: And here’s how it shook down in League C.
5:30pm We had a fella in Examiner Sport for many years who supported about five teams in the Premier League. Fernando Llorente not great either at narrowing down Spain’s big challengers in this thing. “Every national team is very tough. But I think the favourites are Portugal, France, Germany, England and Croatia.”
5:26pm Fernando ‘good feet for a big man’ Llorente is pulling out League C. The ceremony has been refreshingly shy of made-up awards and political toadying to date. But it’s early days. Raheem Sterling has gone to Feynoord, incidentally.
5:25pm John says:
Whenever Uefa get down to the serious business to prevent their audience dozing off, we’ll have the lowdown on Ireland’s opponents. Fixtures and away venues are to follow.
We’ll also bring you reaction from the various gaffers afterwards. Ireland could end up facing Northern Ireland, whose manager Michael O’Neill is reportedly in talks to job-share by filling the vacancy at Blackburn Rovers. O’Neill’s previous stint at Championship level was with Stoke City, sandwiched in between his two stints managing his homeland.
Hallgrímsson is also due to talk in the media mixed zone. The story to emerge from this draw could be a political one if the 25% chance of Ireland meeting Israel comes to fruition. We’ll return to that in due course.
Regardless, questions for the Icelander are certain to be dominated by the build-up to the World Cup semi-final. Soundings from Roma regarding Evan Ferguson’s ankle injury are grounds for concern, while Sammie Szmodics has had his influence questioned by his Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna along the deadline day loan move to Derby County. Other pressings topics are sure to figure.
5:22pm They’re ploughing through it at a reasonable nick in fairness. League D is done and dusted.
5:20pm John’s down the back
5:18pm Ample time to put the kettle on or read the rest of the website, for there’s a fair bit of League D and C to get through before Ireland discover their League B opponents.
5:17pm John has kindly summarised the last few mins for you… at least the bits you might care about.
For those wondering, the Nations League is linked to Euro 2028 qualification but Ireland’s involvement takes on a different complexion due to their role as one of the tournament co-hosts.
Two spots at the 24-nation tournament in June 2028 are reserved for one of the four co-hosts – England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
To put it simply, once England – as they’re highly tipped to – qualify on the pitch, and one of Scotland and Wales do, then Ireland can finish bottom of their qualifying group and still feature. A number of other permutations for Euro involvement exist but let’s park those for now.
Where the Nations League becomes relevant is aiming to gain promotion to League A for the next series or, as was the case last time out, avoid dropping into League C.
Hallgrímsson’s seventh and eight games at the helm were the two legs of a playoff against Bulgaria last March. A couple of 2-1 victories preserved their status among the 16 nations in League B.
5:15pm You know when the league secretary rings up looking for someone to drop back the trophy. I’d say this fella would take a bit of pestering.
5:13pm: They’re going through the “technical procedure”. Believe me, you don’t give a monkeys.
5:11pm: John says: It was on this hallowed ground, in the Centenary Palace of the Brussels Expo campus, where Johnny Logan won the 1987 Eurovision song contest. Hold Me Now, since adopted by Bohemians as their trademark chant, became Logan’s second Eurovision winner. Getting in tune for their biggest game for eight years is Ireland’s priority in Prague on March 26.
5:08pm: They are off. Host Pedro Pinto reckons: “This competition may be young but it has already become a vital part of European football’s international calendar, providing more meaningful, competitive and exciting matches for every team.” Small bit of a stretch but sure look…
5:02pm: The broadcast hasn’t kicked off as billed on Uefa.com, but John is in his seat out there anyway. Hopefully he’s being looked after. Though he says it was cold meats only for the hacks earlier, with the hot grub for the suits only. Always telling him he needs to smarten up on the road.
5pm: John Fallon says:
After a long day in Brussels, Uefa’s Nations League draw for the 2026/27 series is about to begin. Well the proceedings are. Expect the customary pomp and ceremony from the draw, protracted to highlight all the great work undertaken by the umbrella group.
Local Marouane Fellaini is among the former players taking on draw duties and Ireland are, for the fourth successive time in the history of Uefa’s latest competition, part of League B.
They will be drawn alongside three other nations in a four-team pool, with games scheduled for September, October and November.
All Irish fans, and Heimir Hallgrímsson, are consumed by, is the upcoming World Cup playoff series. Czechia in Prague on March 26 is Ireland’s prize for snaring the runners-up spot at the death of the qualification series in November. Miroslav Koubek, recently appointed boss of Czechia, walked along the red carpet into the draw hall just before the Ireland boss.
4:53: Even Uefa can’t quite muster maximum enthusiam for why this event is of great importance. All a bit wooly for the casual observer who’s asking ‘what’s at stake’
It says: “The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League is expected to be linked to qualification for UEFA EURO 2028 in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.” Based on their UEFA Nations League results, some teams will be given a second chance to enter the play-offs for the final tournament.
Anyway, Heimir is here and looks like he means business.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson arriving at Brussels Expo for Uefa Nations League draw. Proceedings begin at 5pm, Irish time. For updates: https://t.co/LV0wJ2nazf pic.twitter.com/MXXcHOYxJl
— John Fallon (@JFallonExaminer) February 12, 2026
4:40pm: Today also saw the conclusion of Uefa’s 50th annual congress meeting, the yearly gathering of 55 members including the Football Association of Ireland. Earlier, John brought word of Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin’s speech on the subject of Russia’s reintegration into global football, something Fifa appears keen on.
The draw begins at 5pm Irish time, with pots as follows..
Pot 1: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany.
Pot 2: Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia.
Pot 3: Serbia, Belgium, England, Norway.
Pot 4: Wales, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey
Pot 1: Scotland, Hungary, Poland, Israel
Pot 2: Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Ukraine
Pot 3: Slovenia, Georgia, Republic of Ireland, Romania
Pot 4: Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Kosovo
Pot 1: Iceland, Albania, Montenegro, Kazakhstan
Pot 2: Finland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Armenia
Pot 3: Belarus, Faroe Islands, Cyprus, Estonia
Pot 4: Latvia or Gibraltar, Luxembourg or Malta, Moldova, San Marino
Pot 1: Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Gibraltar or Latvia, Malta or Luxembourg
Pot 2: Liechtenstein, Andorra
Matchday 1: September 24th-26th;
Matchday 2: September 27th-29th;
Matchday 3: September 30th-October 3rd;
Matchday 4: October 4th-6th;
Matchday 5: November 12th-14th;
Matchday 6: November 15th-17th
