Northern Ireland’s last game in Slovakia was in Trnava in 2016
Northern Ireland fans are set for a travel headache after the Slovakian FA seemingly confirmed that their 2026 World Cup qualifier will be played in Kosice as opposed to Bratislava.
Although Slovakia does have three regular home stadia, it was believed that November’s game would be staged at Tehelné pole, the 22,000-seater national stadium in the capital city.
However, in something of a kick to the teeth of Northern Ireland, the game is now listed for the smaller 12,555-capacity Košická futbalová aréna in Kosice instead.
While venue changes are not unusual for the Green and White Army – September’s qualifier against Germany has been moved to Köln rather than Berlin, for instance – this one in particular will cause particular problems.
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Not only have many fans already booked travel and accommodation in Bratislava but Kosice is tough simply to get to, with a journey between the two cities via public transport taking around six hours.
In fact, so far is it from Bratislava that it would actually be faster for fans to travel to Budapest, the capital of neighbouring Hungary, and get a bus or train from there, which would take just under four hours.
While there is nothing preventing the Slovakian FA from playing the game in Kosice, the late notice for the fixture swap is a blow for Northern Ireland fans, who by now will have already finalised their travel plans.
Northern Ireland have faced Slovakia outside of Bratislava in the past, meeting them in a friendly in Trnava in 2016, however their only previous competitive fixture in the country was played at the Tehelné pole in a World Cup qualifier in 2008.