Northern Ireland’s eagerly awaited Euro 2020 playoff with Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 8 is set to be switched from Zenica to Sarajevo.
The high stakes tie was originally scheduled to be staged at the compact Bilino Polje Stadium n Zenica, 70 kilometres north of the capital.
But it now appears the fixture will be played at Stadium Grbavica in Sarajevo - home of Bosnian Premijer League club FK Zeljeznicar - with an 8.45pm kick-off local time.
The change in venues has yet to be confirmed by UEFA, but Irish FA officials are aware of the development and preparing accordingly.
Stadium Grbavica was used for Northern Ireland’s last visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a UEFA Nations League fixture in 2018.
On that occasion two goals from Roma striker Edin Dzeko secured a 2-0 win for the Bosnians, with Gavin Whyte twice rattling the post late on for the visitors.
Northern Ireland, who reached the knockout stages of Euro 2016, will fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina in three weeks time bidding to reach back-to-back European championships.
They’ll also head there hoping to make amends after suffering a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Norway in the UEFA Nations League last week.
Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland bagged a brace as Northern Ireland shipped five goals at home for the first time in almost 20 years.
The winners of next month’s playoff semi-final will go on to host either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia in a playoff final on November 12.
The Euro 2020 finals have been rescheduled for the summer of 2021 due to the coronavirus crisis.
As a result of the global pandemic, next month's playoff is set to be played behind closed doors.
