Ireland will play England in a behind-closed-doors friendly next month after scrapping the proposed clash with Bosnia.
The game at Wembley Stadium will take place on Thursday, November 12 ahead of Nations League games in Wales and against Bulgaria in Dublin.
Ireland were due to play Bosnia in Sarajevo on that date, in what was a clash of the two beaten Euro 2020 playoff semi-finalists.
But neither team wanted the game and Ireland were keen to cut out as many flights as possible after Covid-19 cases rocked the camp this month. Ireland boss Stephen Kenny said today: "It’s a high quality game for the team.
“With minimal travel between London, Cardiff and Dublin in these changed times, it is better for us logistically with player welfare paramount.
"It helps ensure we will have our strongest possible squad available for all three matches."
The Ireland squad will be based in England ahead of the Wembley clash and will continue their preparations over there for the Wales game in Cardiff on November 15.
They will then fly to Dublin for the Aviva Stadium clash with Bulgaria on November 18.
The fixture with Gareth Southgate’s England is the first meeting of the teams since a 0-0 draw in Dublin under Martin O’Neill in June 2015.
Interim FAI chief executive Gary Owens said: “We’re delighted to accept this invitation to play at Wembley.
“There’s something very special about any game against England and I know our supporters will look forward to this match, even if they can’t be there.”
