Republic of Ireland women's manager Carla Ward said she would be "supportive" of her players if they had concerns over facing Israel in World Cup qualifying. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) recently approved a motion calling for Israel's ban from European competitions, yet will fulfill Nations League fixtures against them in September.

Ward emphasized her open-door policy with players, stating she would listen to any political or personal concerns they might have. "I support my players in all their decisions, football and non-football," she said. The FAI consulted with Uefa about potential sanctions for not fulfilling fixtures, which could include disqualification from the Nations League.

Ward deflected questions about the Israel fixture to the FAI, focusing instead on football matters. She also addressed captain Katie McCabe's future at Arsenal, suggesting the 30-year-old left-back will have "a lot of options" when her contract expires this summer. The Republic of Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against France on March 3, with Ward aiming for a top-three finish in League A2.