Northern Ireland Confident Match Against Belarus Will Proceed

The Irish Football Association (IFA) has expressed confidence that Northern Ireland's Nations League match against Belarus will take place at Windsor Park on November 15, despite previous concerns over visa approvals for the Belarusian team due to UK sanctions related to Belarus's support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine. Chief Executive Patrick Nelson stated that after consultation with government stakeholders, they believe the match can proceed as scheduled. The UK government's informal guidance against Belarusian teams playing in the UK has raised uncertainty, but a Home Office spokesperson indicated that there are no visa rules preventing the Belarus team from traveling. Northern Ireland's recent match against Belarus was played in Hungary due to UEFA restrictions, which do not allow Belarus to host international games. Despite the challenges, the IFA is optimistic about hosting the fixture in Belfast, with updates expected soon. Northern Ireland currently leads Group 3 after a strong victory over Bulgaria.