Soccer

Down the yellow-and-black road: Beitar Jerusalem’s title dream takes shape

Beitar, for the first time in what seemed to be eons, was atop the table with the season having just completed Matchday 19, as it took over sole possession of first place.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM coach Barak Itzhaki has quietly guided the yellow-and-black from early-season promise to an unlikely place atop the Israel Premier League table at midseason.
HAPOEL TEL AVIV’S Liran Rotman assisted on the winning goal and made up for his penalty miss in last week’s derby as the Reds beat Hapoel Beersheba 2-1 at Bloomfield.

Beitar Jerusalem moves into top spot

Hapoel Beersheba falls late to Hapoel Tel Aviv • Maccabi Haifa dominates Maccabi Tel Aviv

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
SV Werder Bremen President Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald; Malte, Representative of the Hersh Friendship Circle; Alon Meyer, President of Makkabi Germany; Arnd Zeigler, SV Werder Stadium Speaker.

Maccabiah award honors Werder Bremen fans' stand against antisemitism

The award was given to the Hersh Goldberg-Polin Circle of Friends, which was created to commemorate slain Gaza hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Police officer and security staff look on as protesters display banners before Maccabi Tel Aviv faces Aston Villa, in Birmingham, UK, November 6, 2025

West Midlands Police chief steps down over Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban scandal, offers no apology

CC Craig Guilford offered no apology for the erroneous policing of the Maccabi match, blaming "political and media frenzy" for his departure.

|ByMATHILDA HELLER

Israel, Trump admin working to block UEFA from banning Israel from European soccer

A majority of UEFA member states are currently in favor of suspending the Jewish state, according to sources cited by The Times.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025ByMATHILDA HELLER, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
PAOK fans gather in the city center to protest against Maccabi Tel Aviv - Thessaloniki, Greece - September 24, 2025 General view of a Palestine flag as a banner is displayed during the protest reading "your pitch your choice boycott Israel."

Dramatic weekend in Israeli Premier League, Maccabi Tel Aviv snatch 2-1 win over Hapoel Jerusalem

At Bloomfield Stadium, Maccabi Tel Aviv left it late to snatch a 2-1 win over Hapoel Jerusalem; Beitar Jerusalem also had to dig deep, edging Ironi Kiryat Shmona 2-1 at Teddy Stadium.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV's Ali Camara celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to lift the yellow-and-blue to a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield Stadium.

Argentine tennis star Diego Schwartzman now plays soccer for a Jewish club in Buenos Aires

After retiring from tennis earlier this year, Schwartzman has returned to the soccer pitch.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2025ByJUAN MELAMED/JTA
Diego Schwartzman, at right, poses with a Barkojba teammate in Buenos Aires, 2025.

‘Game Over Israel’ campaign seeks to bench Israeli soccer players, teams on global stage

International soccer fan groups are seeking to have Israel's national team barred from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
A billboard in Times Square displays the message "Soccer Federations: Boycott Israel" as part of the campaign by Game Over Israel calling for a boycott of Israel by national soccer federations, in New York City, U.S., September 16, 2025

Hapoel Tel Aviv claims victory over Beitar Jerusalem in historic Premier League match

The Hapoel-Beitar game late Monday night will go down as one of the greatest games of the past several seasons in Israeli soccer. 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
The Israeli Premier League match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, September 15, 2025.

From Spurs to Spain: Manor Solomon’s new chapter

The La Liga outfit is just north of Valencia and south of Barcelona on the coast of Spain as the 26-year-old Manor Solomon moved to Villarreal on loan from Tottenham in the English Premier League.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2025ByJOSH HALICKMAN
MANOR SOLOMON (playing above for Israel earlier this month) was introduced at Villarreal following his loan move from Tottenham, as he begins in La Liga and prepares for a Champions League showdown with his former club.

Brazil, Hungary, and Israel kick off Grand Prix soccer tournament in Ramle

Symbolizing coexistence, Israel's mixed city stages global tournament as sports and solidarity return to the Holy Land.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
RAMLE IS hosting teams from Brazil, Hungary, and Israel this week in the Peace & Friendship World League, the first international soccer tournament held in the country since October 7.

Israel's soccer team loses 5-4 to Italy in close-fought FIFA World Cup qualifier

Israel scored four goals but fell to Italy in a nine-goal clash in Hungary. The defeat drops Israel to third, with crucial matches vs. Norway and Italy ahead.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Israel's Manor Solomon in action with Italy's Riccardo Orsolini, World Cup qualifying in Hungary's Debrecen, September 8, 2025.

High-stakes for Israel to qualify in World Cup in upcoming match against Italy

A loss against Italy Monday would put a huge wrench in Israel potentially qualifying for the World Cup.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
OSCAR GLOUKH and Israel had plenty to celebrate against Moldova in a 4-0 victory.

Ex-Israel U21 soccer captain Ataa Jaber backs Thunberg's Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza

Israeli-born soccer player Ataa Jaber, now with the Palestinian national team, posted backing for the Global Sumud Flotilla, including activists such as Greta Thunberg, currently en route to Gaza.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ataa Jaber representing the Palestinian national soccer team.