Israeli football

Record-breaking Israeli soccer star Khalaili transfer canceled after failed test, Inter announces

"We had negotiated the acquisition of Khalaili, who failed the medical examinations, as communicated to us by CONI," Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta announced.

|ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
Anan Khalaili celebrates scoring the second goal against Olympique de Marseille.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Press Conference - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 10, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the FIFA World Cup trophy during the press conference.

FIFA plans to organize match between Israel, Palestine during September U-15 tournament - report

The match would be played during a symbolic tournament in the US, with players from all 211 of FIFA’s member associations present, including Russia.

|ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
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
Beitar Jerusalem players celebrate after scoring the lone goal of their 1-0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium, a result that kept them in first place.

Beitar Jerusalem keeps control of tight championship race

The rough-and-tumble win kept the yellow-and-black in first place by a point over Hapoel Beersheba, while Hapoel fell for the first time this season at Bloomfield Stadium.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Teams find rhythm before international break

Mac Haifa edges Hap Jerusalem • Mac TA handles Hadera • Beitar notches road win at Ashdod

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV continued its strong start to the Israel Premier League season with a 3-0 victory over Hapoel Hadera this week at Netanya Stadium

Why has Israel been hosting so many international sports tournaments?

In recent years, Israel has hosted European and global tournaments in lacrosse, flag football and athletics, and will soon add volleyball, water polo and baseball to the list.

AUGUST 5, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
MANY OF players who suited up for Team Israel at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will be back donning the blue-and-white this month at the World Baseball Classic, where Israel will be playing in Pool D in Miami.

2023 European Athletics Under-20 Championships open in Jerusalem

The president of the Israeli Athletics Associationsaid Israel hosting so many tournaments has broken a glass ceiling in terms of Israel’s standing in the world, both politically and in sports.

AUGUST 4, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
ANAN KHALAILI (left) is the latest sporting hero for Israel. The 18-year-old Sakhnin native scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to send the blue-and-white to a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the last-16 of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina

England blanks blue-and-white at U21 Euros

With a loss, a draw and just one group game left, National Team must beat the Czechs and get help to advance.

JUNE 28, 2023ByURIEL STURM
Picture of England midfielder Emile Smith Rowe

Blue-and-white to host Andorra in Euro 2024 qualifying match

Friday's win against Belarus allowed Israel to stay in qualification contention after only having picked up a single point in its opening pair of games.

JUNE 18, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL TEAMMATES celebrate a goal by Oscar Gloukh that, at the time, gave the blue-and-white a 1-0 lead in what ended as a 3-1 loss to England in the Under-19 European Championship final in Trnava, Slovakia.

Israel reaches FIFA Under 20 World Cup quarterfinals with 0:1 victory

Israel successfully claimed victory just minutes before the end of the match, scoring a goal at the 97th-minute mark.

MAY 31, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ANAN KHALAILI (left) is the latest sporting hero for Israel. The 18-year-old Sakhnin native scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to send the blue-and-white to a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the last-16 of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina

Palestinian flag causes tension at Israel’s first U-20 World Cup game

On Sunday, Israel lost 2-1 in the first match of the first round of the U-20 World Cup, which features the world’s best soccer talent under 20 years old.

MAY 23, 2023ByJUAN MELAMED/JTA
A demonstrator holding an umbrella with colors of Palestinian flag stands by an Israeli flag during a protest.

Israel's young soccer stars fall to Colombia at U20s World Cup

Despite valiant effort and even taking 1-0 second-half lead, Israel surrenders two late tallies in defeat • Senegal on tap

MAY 22, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
COLOMBIA'S OSCAR CORTES scores his side’s first goal past Israel ’keeper Tomer Zarfati from the penalty spot in the 74th minute of the blue-and-white’s 2-1 loss to the South American side at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina

Mac Haifa closes in on title by beating yellow-and-blue

“We scored first and had other opportunities to score as well,” Maccabi coach Aitor Karanka said. “One mistake cost us a lot. We’ve had a tough week with the loss here and in the State Cup..."

MAY 9, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI HAIFA players celebrated during their 3-1 victory over visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv this week at Sammy Ofer Stadium.

New coach, new era for Maccabi Tel Aviv

After Ivic leaves, Goldhar hands keys to yellow-and-blue to heralded Spaniard Aitor Karanka

JANUARY 9, 2023ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV’S new coach Aitor Karanka got straight down to business, beginning his yellow-and-blue tenure with a 3-0 victory over Ashdod SC.