Phil Egan

Off the Ball Daily, a home for your favourite podcasts from Off the Ball.

World Cup Daily on Off the Ball.

With Lynx, a proud sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Hello and welcome along to Friday's World Cup Daily.

I'm Phil Egan.

Coming up today, the FAI confirmed the decision to move Ireland's Nations League game with Israel to a neutral venue and behind closed doors.

Canada and the US get their World Cup campaigns underway today and the League of Ireland is back, as is Damien Duff.

After it was confirmed, he'll join Brentford as an assistant manager to Keith Andrews.

But first, the FAI has confirmed Ireland's home Nations League game against Israel on 4 October will take place at a neutral venue.

The FAI says UEFA approved a request to host the game at a neutral venue and behind closed doors.

The game was due to be held at the Aviva Stadium.

The two sides are also scheduled to play at a neutral venue for Israel's home match, which is on the 27th of September.

In terms of the game on the 4th of October, there's still no indication of what country that game will be played in.

Pressure has grown in Ireland for a boycott of the games due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

A stop the game campaign was launched by the group Irish Support for Palestine and the friendly against Qatar in Dublin last month was disrupted twice when tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag were thrown onto the pitch.

Damien Duff has joined Brentford as an assistant manager ahead of next season.

The former Shelburne boss will work with his former Ireland international teammate Keith Andrews who finished 9th with Brentford in the Premier League last season.

Duff's been out of coaching since last June when he left Shells, who he won the league with in 2024.

Duff and Andrews worked together in the international set-up when Stephen Kenny was Ireland manager.

South Korea came from a goal down to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara in the early hours of the morning.