Israel National Team

Hoops and hopes: Maya Zilbershlag leads Israeli basketball to European competitions

One of Israeli basketball’s top young female talents leads Israel into the U20 Women’s European Championship before beginning her college career at Purdue.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAELI GUARD Maya Zilbershlag enters the U20 European Championship as one of the country’s brightest young prospects.
Emanuel Sharp #21 of the Houston Cougars looks on against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Toyota Center on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas

Israeli-American Emanuel Sharp signs three-year contract with NBA's Sacramento Kings

The deal is reportedly $6.35 million over three years. The first two years are guaranteed, with a team option for the third.

|ByRICHARD OFFENBACHER
Emanuel Sharp #21 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after the second half in the Final Four game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Duke Blue Devils at the Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

Israeli-American Emanuel Sharp, son of Maccabi TA legend Derrick Sharp, gets drafted to the NBA

Following an outstanding career at the University of Houston, Emanuel joins a growing list of Israeli basketball talent to reach the NBA.

|ByRICHARD OFFENBACHER
Team IR Iran Airport Arrival - FIFA World Cup 2026 TIJUANA, MEXICO - JUNE 07: Members of the Iranian national soccer team including midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh (R) arrive at Tijuana International Airport on June 7, 2026 in Tijuana, Mexico. The team's World Cup participation has been complicated

Visa denials and protests shadow FIFA as World Cup kicks off

Iran’s World Cup delegation says FIFA has failed to secure US entry for several officials, with 15 federation members denied visas ahead of the tournament, urging compliance with its rules.

|ByREUTERS

Former Israel National Team player Gadi Kinda dies at 31

Kinda had been battling a serious medical condition for the past several weeks, and had received several messages of support from the Israeli soccer community.

MAY 20, 2025ByOPHIR SAAR, SHLOMO WEISS
AA Gent's Stefan Mitrovic in action with Maccabi Haifa's Gadi Kinda on February 15, 2024.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: A legacy of Holocaust remembrance through three generations

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Rafi Menco opens up about his family’s Holocaust history, the meaning behind the club’s yellow jersey, and what it means to carry their legacy forward.

APRIL 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
THE GRANDSON of Holocaust survivors, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israel forward Rafi Menco carries memory, pride, and resilience into every game.

Israel edges Estonia 2-1 to start 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a win

Eli Dasa’s first international goal secures Israel’s 2-1 victory over Estonia in World Cup qualifying match.

MARCH 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL DEFENDER Eli Dasa (right) scores his side’s second goal past Estonia ’keeper Matvei Igonen in the 75th minute of the blue-and-white 2-1 World Cup qualification victory at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary.

National Team set for World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Norway in Hungary

Ahead of the two matches, head coach Ran Ben Shimon addressed various topics, including the starting goalkeeper decision and squad selection. 

MARCH 21, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL HAS a pivotal weekend ahead in World Cup qualifying, with matches against Estonia and Norway on tap, with the blue-and-white ‘hosting’ in Debrecen, Hungary.

Eyes on 2026: Road to World Cup begins for the Israel national team

Despite some nerves, the blue-and-white are working hard to make their 2026 World Cup dreams a reality

DECEMBER 18, 2024ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MANOR SOLOMON (pictured above in a Israel-Belarus Euro 2024 qualifier in September 2023) and the National Team hope to soon get back to playing at Bloomfield Stadium as the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is set to kick off.

Israel National Team defeats Belgium 1-0, in first win of the campaign

Shua’s late strike lifts Ben Shimon & Co. to landmark Nations League conquest of Belgium

NOVEMBER 18, 2024ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL TEAMMATES Daniel Peretz (left) and Raz Shlomo celebrate after the blue-and-white beat Belgium 1-0 late Sunday in Nations League action in Budapest.

Italians beat the Israeli national team in Nations League game

The Israeli national teams gives it their best in the Nations League.

OCTOBER 15, 2024ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Playing in a Nations League group with powerhouses Italy, France and Belgium has been humbling for Israel.

Ben Saraf takes leadership role for blue-and-white at U18 Euros - Interview

Just before taking to the court in Finland, Saraf spoke to The Jerusalem Post about the upcoming tournament, his future in Germany and much, much more.

JULY 30, 2024ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAELI TEENAGER Ben Saraf is one of the top international prospects looking ahead to the 2025 NBA Draft and the electric guard is co-captaining the blue-and-white at the ongoing U18 Euros.

Israel aims for Olympic glory in Paris amid high security and historic challenges - editorial

There will be 88 Israeli competitors at the Paris Games, its second-largest Olympic delegation, two fewer than in Tokyo three years ago.

JULY 26, 2024ByJPOST EDITORIAL
Paris 2024 Olympics - Football - Men's Group D - Mali vs Israel - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - July 24, 2024. Israel players line up during the national anthems before the match.

Israel’s Olympic soccer team set for historic return at Paris Games

Head Coach Guy Luzon’s team qualified for the Olympics as one of four European squads after a strong performance at last summer’s Under-21 UEFA European Championships.

JULY 22, 2024ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
SEAN GOLDBERG (left) of Maccabi Haifa, is one of Israel’s over-age players for the Olympic tournament, which the blue-and-white will kick off on Wednesday against Mali.