Belgium vs. Israel Nations League Match to Be Played Behind Closed Doors

Hungary to Host Match Due to Israel's Travel Ban

Belgium's home match against Israel in the Nations League will take place behind closed doors in Debrecen, Hungary, on 6 September, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has announced. The decision comes after the Israeli government imposed a travel ban on its citizens due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact on Fans

The decision to play the match behind closed doors is a major disappointment for fans of both teams. Belgium, ranked first in the FIFA World Rankings, is one of the favorites to win the Nations League, while Israel is a rising star in international football. The match was expected to draw a large crowd to the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

Impact on the Teams

The RBFA said that it had explored all possible options to play the match in Belgium, but that the Israeli government's travel ban made it impossible to do so. The match will now be played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, which has a capacity of 20,000. However, no fans will be allowed to attend the match.

Next Steps

The RBFA said that it will continue to work with the Israeli Football Association to find a way to reschedule the match in front of fans. However, it is unclear when this will be possible. The Nations League is a biennial international football competition involving the senior men's national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA. The first edition of the tournament was held in 2018–19, and was won by Portugal.