Israel women's soccer team hands over home-field advantage to play Nations League games

Thu, Nov 9, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

NYON, Switzerland (AP) - Israel's national team in women's soccer on Thursday forfeited home-field advantage to opponents in two upcoming Nations League games as it seeks neutral venues during the war with Hamas.

UEFA said Israel's games against Kazakhstan and Armenia intended to be home and away will now be played as double-headers in the capital cities Astana and Yerevan, respectively, between Nov. 23 and Dec. 2.

UEFA said a third "home" game for the Israeli women, against Estonia, will be played Dec. 5 at the home of Hungarian club Puskas Akademia.

That stadium is in the village of Felcsut closely tied to the country's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. It also will stage two key European Championship qualifying games next week for the Israeli men's team.

Other news Tottenham and Brazil forward Richarlison has groin surgery Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah to miss US Copa America qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago Father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz released after his kidnapping in Colombia by ELN guerrillas

Israel has five games to play in its Women's Nations League third-tier group after starting in September with a 5-0 win at Estonia.

Israel will play Kazakhstan on Nov. 23 and Nov. 26, then Armenia on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. Only the Nov. 26 game will be played without fans, UEFA said.

The Israel-Armenia game was originally scheduled in September then postponed when the Armenian team did not travel during the country's military conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer