Nations League: Why are Northern Ireland playing Ukraine in Slovakia?
Northern Ireland will face Ukraine in the Nations League at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium in Slovakia.
Image generated with Gemini
The UEFA Nations League match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland on Friday, 2 October, will be held at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium in Trnava, Slovakia.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian national team has been playing its home fixtures outside the country due to security concerns. Previous venues for these matches have included stadiums in the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, and Germany.
The Anton Malatinsky Stadium is a familiar venue for the team; it hosted Ukraine's 1-0 victory over Malta in June 2023 during the European Championship qualifiers. UEFA permits Ukraine to select its preferred venues provided they meet all regulatory standards.
The fixture against Northern Ireland is part of a busy international schedule. The team will also host Hungary in Trnava, and the November home match against Georgia is scheduled to take place at the same venue.