The Republic of Ireland's controversial Nations League fixtures against Israel will go ahead after players voted for the games to be played.
The scheduled news conference ahead of Sunday's first game -- which is being played in Debrecen, Hungary -- was delayed until Saturday afternoon, raising doubts as to whether the match would be played.
However, the Football Association of Ireland issued a statement saying the fixtures will go ahead.
It read: "The Football Association of Ireland confirms that the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel will be fulfilled.
"The Association made this decision following consultation with the Republic of Ireland players who shared different views and a majority expressed that the fixtures should be played.
"The Association respects the views of all players involved and appreciates the level of sensitivity concerning these fixtures."
The Republic of Ireland's original news conference and scheduled training ahead of their controversial Nations League fixture with Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, were both delayed on Saturday morning.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player were due to address the media at 10.15 a.m. local time, but a UEFA official announced about 15 minutes beforehand that it was to be put back until after their training session, to 12.30 p.m. local time.
It was later announced that the team would be 20 minutes late for their training session, due to start at 11 a.m. local time, but as of just before 12 p.m. local time the team had not yet arrived at the Nagyerdei Stadium.
UEFA officials were unsure of the reason behind the delay, although players had announced they would meet on Friday to discuss the situation.
It was later confirmed that the news conference would take place at 3.30 p.m. local time in Debrecen with training commencing 15 minutes later.
Teams who do not meet obligations can be subject to warnings or fines from UEFA.
The Press Association has requested comment from UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland.
The team has been coming under increasing pressure in the Republic of Ireland, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott the two games -- the first on Sunday and the second, Ireland's "home" game, in Backa Topola, Serbia on Oct. 4.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight said after Thursday's 1-0 loss in Kosovo that the players were in a difficult situation and that he didn't think the matches should be going ahead.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson previously said "we're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel" -- drawing a furious reaction from the Israeli football federation, which accused the Icelandic coach of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy."
The FAI had resisted calls to boycott the matches, arguing the team could be hit be punishing sanctions by UEFA. The Republic of Ireland is co-hosting the 2028 European Championship with match also taking place in England, Wales and Scotland.
More than 160 Irish sportspeople signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the fixtures.
There were protestors outside the team hotel in Dublin last week calling on the players to boycott the games. The SIPTU trade union displayed a huge poster in central Dublin beside the River Liffey asking the players to "Go with your conscience!" and "Don't play with genocide" beside an image of a blood-splattered ball.
Former Republic of Ireland coach Brian Kerr said the FAI had "lost of the respect of the Irish people" for going ahead with the games.
"The Irish people and the soccer-going public don't want the games to be played," Kerr said. "I think they've made their opinions clear over the last year. The FAI back in November actually went to UEFA and requested that Israel be put out of the tournament on a principle. And yet they went against that principle."