Israel’s Under-17 flag football national team earned another impressive achievement over the weekend, reaching the final of the IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, and finishing with the silver medal after falling 34-14 to Spain in the title game.
It marks the third consecutive year the squad has advanced to the final, following back-to-back gold medal triumphs in the previous two tournaments.
Israel head coach Gideon Reiz said: “We just had a tough game and Spain really played their hearts out and they surprised us with a few things and took advantage of it. We weren’t able to do what we needed to do to get a victory but we had a great time at this tournament and still went home with a silver medal.”
Israel dominated the group stage with a perfect 4-0 record, advancing to the knockout rounds unbeaten. In the semifinal, the blue-and-white edged past the Czech Republic in a tense contest to secure their place in the final.
Flag football has been gaining momentum worldwide
Also competing in Innsbruck was Israel’s U15 mixed team, which finished sixth after falling short of the decisive knockout rounds.
Flag football has been gaining momentum globally in recent years, recognized for its fast-paced, non-contact, and highly strategic style of play. The sport has now been included in the Olympic program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Israel already boasts a well-established domestic league and consistent international success across age groups.
Steve Leibowitz, chairman of American Football in Israel, said: “The U17 players of today will be 20 by Los Angeles 2028, and our journey toward the Olympics starts right now. A silver medal in Europe, after two straight golds, is still an impressive result, and we learn from every game. In a few weeks, our senior national team will compete in the European Championships in Paris, where finishing in the top six will be critical to keeping our Olympic dream alive.”
Ayelet President Arik Kaplan added: “The outstanding performance of Israel’s youth flag football team at the European Championship is a testament to the strength, values, and fighting spirit of our young athletes. These achievements are the result of investment, professionalism, and the federation’s strong management. We will continue to push for even greater success in the future.”