Israel National Football Team
Israel football from its pre-state origins and changing confederations to landmark matches, players, coaches, and youth development.
Category pages
- How did Israel move from Asian football to UEFA?Israel’s football association was formed in 1928 and joined FIFA in 1929, before the State of Israel existed. After competing in the AFC from 1956 to 1974 and then playing in Oceania qualifying, it became a full UEFA member in 1994.
- Has Israel ever qualified for the World Cup?Yes. Israel qualified once, for Mexico 1970, beating Australia 1–0 over two legs in the final playoff. It drew with Sweden and Italy and lost to Uruguay in the finals.
- Who are Israel’s best-known footballers?Mordechai Spiegler scored Israel’s only goal at the 1970 World Cup. Yossi Benayoun became the country’s leading appearance-maker, while goalkeeper Dudu Aouate earned 78 caps and spent more than a decade in Spain.
- Israel’s landmark football matches and resultsIsrael’s defining results include its 1964 Asian Cup title, its 1970 World Cup qualification and two draws in Mexico, and the Under-21 team’s 1–0 win over England at the 2013 European Championship.
- Football and identity in IsraelFootball gives Israelis a shared national team and club competition to follow, while its history also reflects the country’s place in international sport—from the 1964 Asian Cup title to UEFA membership in 1994.
- Israel national team coaches and turning pointsEmanuel Scheffer led Israel through 1970 World Cup qualifying; Jack Mansell coached the team at the finals in Mexico. Later notable coaches include Shlomo Scharf, Richard Møller Nielsen, and Andreas Herzog.
- How does Israel develop young footballers?Players can progress from club youth teams into Israel’s age-group national sides and then the senior team. UEFA documents the Under-21 finals appearances and its support for Israel’s national training centre and youth academy.