Scotland to face Israel behind closed doors in Hungary for World Cup qualifiers
Uefa security restrictions mean both Scotland fixtures against Israel will take place in Budapest next month
Scotland’s women’s team will play both of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Israel behind closed doors in Hungary next month after Uefa ruled that matches cannot currently be staged in Israel for security reasons.
The Scottish Football Association confirmed that Melissa Andreatta’s side will complete their Group B4 campaign with both the “home” and “away” fixtures at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest.
Scotland will first face Israel on 5 June, before meeting them again four days later in their final group stage match.
The decision means Scotland’s designated home fixture will not be played in Scotland, following the same arrangement used by other teams in the group.
According to BBC Sport Scotland, Uefa’s restrictions on hosting matches in Israel remains in place due to the security situation in the region. Hungary has therefore continued to act as a neutral base for Israeli national teams in recent international competitions.
The two sides previously met during Euro 2025 qualifying, with Scotland winning both matches. Their Hampden Park meeting was played behind closed doors and briefly delayed after a protester chained himself to a goalpost.
Scotland has already secured a play-off place later this year and currently sits top of Group B4 on goal difference.
The Scottish FA has not issued fresh comment on why the home fixture will not be staged in Scotland, but previously said refusing to play Israel would result in forfeiting the matches and damaging Scotland’s qualification prospects.
In an earlier statement to the BBC, the governing body said: “The Scottish FA is acutely aware of the suffering and devastation experienced in Gaza.
“We are not insulated from the emotional weight of that reality, nor immune to the moral urgency expressed by the supporters, campaigners and wider civic society who have been in touch following the draw against Israel.
“At the same time, we are a national association operating under the membership of Fifa and Uefa and bound by their statutes.
“Member associations do not have unilateral discretion to choose who they will or will not play against, which is why we are obligated to fulfil our fixtures.”
The issue has also drawn attention elsewhere in European football. Earlier this year, the Football Association of Ireland confirmed it had explored the consequences of refusing to play Israel before deciding to fulfil its scheduled fixtures after being warned of potential sanctions from Uefa.
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