The FIFA World Cup is set to take place in 2026, with the Israeli team looking to secure its participation. Since the country has only appeared once at the world’s biggest soccer tournament - in 1970 - this is the chance for soccer fans to enjoy something special, but what can they expect if they get there?
The Expanded Format
The 23rd FIFA World Cup will be the first time that 48 teams are involved. This means that there will be 12 groups, each with four teams in it. The two teams that top each group will progress to the round of 32, together with the eight teams in third place with the best records.
The first game will take place on June 11, 2026, with the final set to be played on July 19. When Israel traveled to Mexico for the 1970 event, only 16 teams were there, showing us how the format has been expanded greatly since then.
The Locations
The US is the main host country, while Mexico and Canada are also going to host games. This means that there’s a chance that Israel will return to Mexico, where the team played its only World Cup finals games to date. It’s the first time that the soccer tournament will be held across three countries.
While the US hosted the World Cup in 1994, this is the first time that Canada has done so. How will the Canadians react to this event? Basketball, ice hockey, and football - of the gridiron variety - are among the sports that people here like to read about and bet on. These are traditionally the most popular sports in Canada, with soccer lagging behind until recently. However, a lot more people are taking an interest these days, both in soccer players from Canada and those further afield - sparking sometimes fierce debates about who the best soccer teams are.
Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are all listed here in the debate surrounding which was the best soccer team of all time. Manchester City’s team, led by Pep Guardiola, which won the Champions League in 2023, is the most recent addition. While no teams from North America make the list, some popular teams in Canada still attract a large, passionate support group, and many Canadians are enthusiastic about cheering on international teams. Looking at the betting options, Canadians can choose from the North American MLS, as well as leagues and tournaments across the planet, so it’s safe to say that the locals have a keen interest in soccer and access to the latest information, too.
The draw for the finals will be made on December 5 at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino overseeing the event. Teams such as Argentina, Brazil, and Australia have already qualified, while the three host nations are also guaranteed to be there. However, most of the final spots are still up for grabs as we near the end of the qualifying stages.
How Did The Team Fare in 1970?
While there is little comparison between the World Cup in 1970 and next year’s event, it’s still interesting to look at how that World Cup in Mexico unfolded. Israel was placed in Group 2 alongside Italy, Uruguay, and Sweden. Their tournament began with a 2-0 loss to Uruguay at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.
This was followed by a 1-1 draw with Sweden at the Estadio Luis Dosal in Toluca and then 0-0 versus Italy at the same stadium. This means that the Israeli soccer team has yet to taste victory in a World Cup Finals match, while Mordechai Shpigler’s impressive goal against Sweden remains the only time that Israel has hit the back of the net in this tournament.
The Mexican cities featured in 2026 are Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, so there will be no chance of Israel returning to the scenes of those games from over 50 years ago. However, if the team qualifies again, any return to Mexico would be extremely nostalgic for those fans who witnessed the first time reaching the World Cup.
The Chances of Success in 2026
The recent 5-4 defeat to Italy has left Israel sitting outside the qualifying spots for 2026 in Group I. Only the winner automatically qualifies, and at the time of writing, this position is held by Norway. Italy sits in second place, with a play-off spot the prize for the team that ends in this position. With Estonia and Moldova almost out of the running in the bottom two spaces, the final games in the group are set to be decisive.
1970’s Mexican adventure was led by legendary coach Emmanuel Schaffer. Current coach Ran Ben Shimon has a tough task to reach North America this time, although he will be hoping that star players such as Manor Solomon, Dor Peretz, and Oskar Gloch help them get to the finals in style.
It’s been a long time since Israel enjoyed the biggest stage in soccer, despite having a long list of quality players since 1970. Their qualification for the 2026 tournament is still in the balance, with the next few weeks set to reveal whether we can look forward to another trip to North America or not.
This article was written in cooperation with Bud Ozzie