Seamus Coleman will not feature for the Republic of Ireland in their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, stepping aside from international duty as the 37-year-old defender continues his search for a club following his departure from Everton. Coleman’s 17-year association with the Toffees came to an end at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, a tenure that yielded 433 appearances for the club. The former Ireland captain, who has accumulated 81 caps for his country, has remained vigilant about his fitness but has not been attached to a club side since his exit from Goodison Park. Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson confirmed that the decision to omit Coleman from the 26-man squad was a mutual one, with the defender expressing concern about occupying a place that could go to an actively training player.
“It is my intention in whatever shape or form that he [Coleman] would be with us in the future, hopefully as a player,” Hallgrimsson said during the squad announcement. “His intention is to play, he’s keeping fit but he hasn’t been training with a club so we felt together, and it was more his decision, that it would be appropriate he sit out this one, mostly because he thought it was unfair to other players that he would be taking up a place.”
The squad announcement brings promising news for Ireland’s defensive options, with Sheffield United loanee Liam Kitching earning his maiden senior call-up. Uncapped left-sided defender Joel Bagan of Cardiff City and Hibernian’s former Sligo Rovers striker Owen Elding are also in contention for their first international appearances during the four-match window. Additionally, Vata returns to the fold for the first time since March 2025 following a successful recovery from a long-term injury. Ireland captain Nathan Collins will also be absent from the squad, having suffered a calf injury during Brentford’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland on 5 September. The defensive contingent is further bolstered by the inclusion of Dara O’Shea, Jake O’Brien, Liam Scales, John Egan, James Abankwah, Jimmy Dunne, Ryan Manning, and the returning Bagan.
In midfield, Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight, Finn Azaz, Bosun Lawal, Jamie McGrath, Harvey Vale, and Conor Coventry provide depth, while the attacking options feature Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, Johnny Kenny, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Sammie Szmodics. The Republic of Ireland will commence their Nations League campaign against Kosovo at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina on 24 September, before facing Israel on 27 September in Debrecen, Hungary. The team then returns to domestic soil for an Aviva Stadium fixture against Austria on 1 October, concluding the international window with a second encounter against Israel at the TSC Arena on 4 October. The matches will be played at neutral venues as part of the ongoing arrangements.
Coleman’s absence marks a significant moment in Ireland’s international journey, closing a chapter for one of the nation’s most dedicated servants. His leadership and pivotal contributions during the qualification campaign — including starting both matches in the crucial wins over Portugal and Hungary that secured Ireland’s advancement to the World Cup play-offs — will be deeply missed. As Hallgrimsson looks to blend experience with youth, the integration of new faces like Kitching, Bagan, and Elding into the squad represents a calculated step forward for Irish football as they seek to build momentum in Group B3.
