Belgium’s Nations League home match against Israel will be held behind closed doors in Debrecen, Hungary, on 6 September.
The Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) had been seeking an alternative venue after Brussels declared it “impossible” to host the match due to security concerns.
Other Belgian cities also declined to host the game.
The ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict has triggered global protests, including in Belgium.
“Given that in Belgium, no local authority considered it possible to organise the home match of the Red Devils against Israel, the RBFA had to look for a solution abroad,” the federation said.
Most of Belgium’s home fixtures are held at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
In October, the stadium was the site of a tragic incident where a gunman killed two Swedish individuals before a Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden. The match was abandoned at halftime due to security concerns.
Initially, Belgian prosecutors stated that there appeared to be no connection between the attack and the Israel-Gaza conflict, though they later acknowledged that the possibility could not be ruled out.
Belgium and Israel are both in Nations League Group A2, alongside France and Italy.
FIFA is currently reviewing a proposal from the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to suspend Israel from international competition.
The PFA submitted its request in May, but FIFA will not make a final decision until after the Paris Olympics, which take place from 26 July to 11 August. FIFA has indicated that the legal aspects of the case will be presented to its council on 31 August.
“Following requests for extension from both parties to submit their respective positions, duly granted by Fifa, more time is needed to conclude this process with due care and completeness,” Fifa said on X.
Israel will play Mali, Paraguay and Japan in the group phase of the 2024 Olympics.
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