Two of Israel's upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying games will be played in Hungary, European soccer's governing body UEFA announced on Tuesday.
UEFA postponed all matches scheduled in the country earlier this month due to the Israel-Hamas war and FIFA announced last week the games would be played in November, but did not provide locations or times.
The Pancho Arena in Felcsut will host Israel's Group I qualifying game against Switzerland on Nov. 15 and their Nov. 18 match against Romania. The matches will be played with spectators, UEFA said.
Israel, who have 11 points from six matches and sit third in the group, are also playing away at Kosovo on Nov. 12. It joined UEFA as a member in 1994, but has never qualified for a Euros tournament.
Hungary has been a regular replacement venue for UEFA-organized games since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started and Israel already went there in June to face group rival Belarus, which is playing home games in Budapest. UEFA blocked Belarus from hosting games while it is Russia's military ally waging war on Ukraine.
If Israel finishes outside the top two, it will enter the qualifying playoffs in March. Three teams will advance from the playoff brackets to complete a 24-team Euro 2024 lineup.
Israel topped a group in the Nations League second tier last year to ensure it would have a second chance to qualify for Euro 2024 hosted by Germany. That Nations League group was to include Russia before it was excluded by UEFA last year from all European competitions.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.