Ireland players wear black armbands and refrain from handshakes in soccer game against Israel

DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) — There were no handshakes between Ireland and Israel players before their contentious Nations League match on Sunday, with the Irish team wearing black armbands for its 3-0 victory.

The game faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel’s actions in Gaza with the players coming under huge pressure to boycott two matches against Israel.

Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno decided Saturday to leave the squad for both games because of what he said was his “personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.”

The Irish players looked down at the grass with their heads bowed and hands behind their backs during the playing of the Israeli national anthem, and Irish captain Dara O’Shea approached the center of the field for the pre-match talk with his hands still firmly clasped behind his back.

O’Shea shook hands with the referee and his assistants but there was no attempt to shake the hand of Israel captain Manor Solomon.

There was a small group of Israeli fans in the otherwise almost-empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, but an even smaller group of around 10 people without colors were celebrating when Troy Parrott broke the deadlock in the 13th minute.

There weren’t supposed to be any Irish fans present. Some Ireland supporters who managed to get tickets through the Israeli soccer federation told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that those had been canceled Saturday night.

Adam Idah made it 2-0 three minutes after Parrott’s opener and Jack Moylan got the third goal in the 25th.

Ireland needed goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher at his best to deny Israel after the break, and tempers became frayed around the hour mark after a clash between Idah and Raz Shlomo. Both players were booked by German referee Harm Osmers.

Israel forward Sayed Abu Farchi was suspended for the game after his sending off following his goal-celebration in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Austria.

Ireland and Israel meet again on Oct. 4 in Ireland’s “home” game in Backa Topola, Serbia.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Oscar Gloukh of Israel gestures during the Nations League soccer match with Ireland in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)/MTI via AP)

Raz Shlomo of Israel, center, in action against Liam Kitchin of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

Players of Israel, right, and Ireland stand for the anthems before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

Players of Israel, right, and Ireland stand for the anthems before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

Oscar Gloukh of Israel, left, in action against James Abankwah of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

Dor Turgeman of Israel, right, in action against Jake O'Brien of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

Eliel Peretz of Israel, left, in action against Conor Coventry of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Ireland and Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Zsolt Czegledi/MTI via AP)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes arrived in South Florida this weekend and noticed a fun coincidence. He was back in the same hotel room he stayed in when he won his first Super Bowl title.

“You feel that on the field and seeing the stadium where you won your first Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “It was cool to be back here.”

The Chiefs didn't win any trophies on Sunday, but they got to 3-0. And that was good enough.

Kenneth Walker III had a touchdown catch and rushed for a score, and Mahomes threw for 246 yards and two TDs to help the Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 24-10.

“Obviously we didn’t play to our standard that we would hold for ourselves,” Mahomes said. “But I thought we found a way to come together at the end of the game.”

The Chiefs entered averaging more than 450 yards and 32 points but struggled to pull away from the winless Dolphins, who were missing arguably their best player for much of the game after Pro Bowler De'Von Achane left with a knee injury on the opening drive.

Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said the team was still gathering information on the extent of Achane's injury, but added it did not “sound optimistic.”

Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes with an interception. He threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Walker, and his 11-yard TD pass to Travis Kelce put the game out of reach.

Mahomes found Kelce in the end zone with 2:55 left to put the Chiefs up by two scores after Kansas City stopped the Dolphins on fourth down at Miami's 48. The Chiefs intercepted Malik Willis on the ensuing drive, and Mahomes moved Kansas City into scoring position before Harrison Butker missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt.

Rashee Rice led the Chiefs in receiving with seven catches for 88 yards, including receptions of 15 and 34 yards on Kansas City's last scoring drive.

“We knew it’d be four quarters of football, and that’s what it took,” coach Andy Reid said. “We’ve got plenty of things to work on, but it’s great to be 3-0. There were some real good things we could take out of it, and there’s some things we can definitely work on going forward.”

Kelce opened the game with a 48-yard catch-and-run but didn't have another catch — or target — until the fourth-quarter score. Walker was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time this season with 18 carries for 70 yards.

“We're not going to be mad about winning,” Mahomes said, adding the team's youth played a factor in some of Sunday's lulls. “We won the football game. You think about last season — we were losing some of these games.”

The Dolphins (0-3) pulled within 14-10 on a nine-play scoring drive in the third quarter highlighted by tight end Greg Dulcich's 42-yard catch and capped by Riley Patterson's 37-yard field goal.

Willis was 20 of 36 for 210 yards with the interception and a lost fumble. He also rushed for 56 yards.

Ollie Gordon had 17 carries for 41 yards and a 3-yard TD. The Dolphins turned to the third-stringer after Achane suffered the knee injury on an 11-yard run on Miami's first drive. Backup Jaylen Wright (stinger) was inactive.

Kansas City scored touchdowns on its first two drives, and it looked like Miami's defense was in for another long afternoon, one week after allowing San Francisco to score touchdowns on its first five possessions.

The Dolphins' young defense settled in, though. Miami forced a turnover on downs on Kansas City's third drive, and rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez came up with a diving interception of Mahomes before halftime.

“It's never as good as it was, never as bad as it was until you watch the tape, but I'm pleased with that,” Rodriguez said. “I'm pleased with the intensity. I'm pleased with the physicality of this defense and of this team. And I believe in everybody. ... Now, we have to get better at the football part of it.”

Dolphins: Gordon left late in the third quarter because of cramping but returned.

Chiefs: At Las Vegas next Sunday.

Dolphins: At Minnesota next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis looks to pass the ball during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/David Santiago)

Miami Dolphins Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates after he scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) scores a touchdown against Miami Dolphins cornerback Chris Johnson (3) and Michael Taaffe (16) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/David Santiago)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)