Southampton forward Finn Azaz has put an end to speculation surrounding his international career by confirming he will continue to play for the Republic of Ireland. Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, the 26-year-old dismissed reports that he was considering retiring from the international stage, reiterating his dedication to the country for which he holds citizenship and has collected 16 caps since making his debut in 2024.
The England-born attacker qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his father, while also being eligible to represent Israel through his mother. Questions regarding his international future arose after two controversial Nations League fixtures against Israel, during which Azaz remained an unused substitute. The squad had faced calls to withdraw from the matches because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, while the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine staged "Stop The Game" protests before and during a game against Austria in Dublin. The Football Association of Ireland ultimately fulfilled the fixtures at neutral venues, recording a 3-0 victory before a 1-1 draw. Throughout the games, Ireland players wore black armbands, refrained from shaking hands with opponents, and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem.
Following the second fixture, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson praised Azaz, admitting the delicate circumstances were "tough" on the forward "mentally." Hallgrimsson offered his full backing to the Southampton attacker, remarking: "It is probably the most difficult situation for him of all of us. He deserves a lot of credit for being in the squad and showed desire to be a part of this team."
On the domestic front, Azaz has become an integral figure for Southampton in their bid to secure promotion back to the Premier League. Since completing a transfer from Middlesbrough last summer, he has tallied 14 goals and 15 assists in 60 appearances. Looking ahead, Azaz stressed that the team must continue to raise their standards. "It's been a good start by the team but we're not there yet," Azaz stated, adding that the group must "build that mentality" and maintain high aspirations to reach another level rather than settling for their current consistency.