Finn Azaz has confirmed he will continue to represent the Republic of Ireland, putting to rest speculation that the Southampton forward could walk away from international football following a politically charged fortnight for the national side.

The 26-year-old, speaking to BBC Radio Solent, said he would carry on playing for the country where he holds citizenship. Azaz has made 16 appearances for the Republic since his debut in 2024, qualifying through his father, while also being eligible for Israel through his mother.

A difficult period on the international stage

The speculation arose after Azaz was an unused substitute when the Republic of Ireland met Israel in two recent Nations League fixtures, matches that were surrounded by considerable controversy. Calls had been made for Ireland's players to withdraw in protest at the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, and a campaign organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine staged protests before and during the Republic's earlier game against Austria in Dublin.

The Football Association of Ireland ultimately decided to fulfil both fixtures, which had already been moved to neutral venues. The Republic won the first match 3-0 before playing out a 1-1 draw in the second. Ireland wore black armbands throughout, bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem before kick-off, and the two squads did not shake hands.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson acknowledged the particular strain on Azaz given his dual eligibility. "It is probably the most difficult situation for him of all of us," Hallgrimsson said after the second match. "He deserves a lot of credit for being in the squad and showed desire to be a part of this team."

Azaz himself has now drawn a line under the episode by committing to continue with Ireland, though speaking publicly about the matter has clearly not been straightforward.

Key figure in Southampton's promotion push

Away from the international controversy, Azaz has been among the standout performers in the Championship this campaign. Since arriving from Middlesbrough last summer, he has scored 14 goals and contributed 15 assists in 60 appearances for Southampton, making him one of the most productive players at second-tier level by any measure.

Those numbers matter because Southampton's central ambition this season is to win promotion back to the top flight, and Azaz has been central to that effort. He has been careful not to let the club get ahead of themselves, however.

"It's been a good start by the team but we're not there yet," he told BBC Radio Solent. "There's still space to get to another level; we've been pretty consistent but it was never going to be the same as the end of last season straight away. You have to build that mentality. It's now about us wanting to keep improving and not just being content with how we're doing. We have high aspirations and the mindset has to be to keep getting better."

That is the sort of press-conference caution that can sound like boilerplate, but given the form Azaz has shown, there is little reason to doubt that the ambition is genuine rather than managed.

What it means for Southampton

For Southampton, the confirmation that Azaz remains committed to international football brings a measure of clarity. A player navigating a public debate about whether to retire from international duty mid-season is a distraction no club in the middle of a promotion campaign needs. The matter appears settled for now.

Whether the Nations League episode will leave any lasting effect on Azaz is harder to judge, but Hallgrimsson's comments suggest the management team are mindful of the toll it may have taken. For the moment, Southampton will be glad to have their forward's attention back on the Championship table.

Frequently asked

Will Finn Azaz continue playing for the Republic of Ireland?
Yes. Azaz confirmed in October 2026 that he will carry on representing the Republic of Ireland, ending speculation that he might retire from international football.
How many goals has Finn Azaz scored for Southampton?
Azaz has scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists in 60 appearances for Southampton since joining from Middlesbrough last summer.
Why was Finn Azaz linked with retiring from international football?
Azaz, who qualifies for Ireland through his father and for Israel through his mother, was an unused substitute during two controversial Republic of Ireland versus Israel Nations League fixtures. Reports afterwards suggested he might call time on his international career, though he has since confirmed he will continue.