The Republic of Ireland and Israel faced each other in a UEFA Nations League match at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia. The game, which was played without spectators, ended in a 1-1 draw. Troy Parrott opened the scoring for Ireland with a penalty in the 39th minute, while Dor Peretz equalized for Israel shortly after the second half began.

The match was characterized by significant political tension. According to Al Jazeera, Irish players opted not to participate in the traditional pre-match handshake with their Israeli counterparts and wore black armbands. The Guardian reported that the Irish players also bowed their heads during the playing of the Israeli national anthem. Conversely, Haaretz noted that the Israeli team also wore black armbands, specifically to commemorate the victims of the October 7 attacks. While Sky Sports described the fixture as "controversial," The Guardian characterized the atmosphere as "tetchy," noting that this was the second meeting between the two nations to feature such displays of friction.