Israeli football

From preseason disaster to title contender: How Barak Bachar turned Maccabi Haifa around

For now, the broader message is unmistakable: Writing off Maccabi Haifa after its preseason struggles would have been premature.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Maccabi Haifa players celebrate during a recent victory as Barak Bachar’s Greens continue their resurgence, climbing to second place in the Israeli Premier League and emerging as serious contenders in the championship race.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits supporters in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, ahead of Israel’s upcoming general elections, October 14, 2026.

Eisenkot's Yashar warns Sport 5 to avoid making Netanyahu's presence 'prominent' during soccer game

The party also wants production, editing, and broadcasting teams to be instructed in advance to switch camera shots or cut away from a segment in real time when necessary.

|ByAVI SOLOMON
General view of the Lahav 433 police unit headquarters in the city of Lod on August 2, 2026.

Police arrest four in suspected financial crimes linked to Israeli Premier League soccer team

Dozens of the team’s current and former players are expected to be summoned for questioning, while the offenses involve millions of shekels connected to a soccer team.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Israel's players (L) and the Republic of Ireland's players (R) stand alongside the officials for the national anthems ahead of the UEFA Nations League Group B3 football match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola on October 4, 2026.

UEFA opens probe into alleged misconduct during Ireland-Israel soccer match

The investigation follows reports of possible player misconduct during Ireland’s Nations League fixture against Israel, played behind closed doors in Serbia.

|ByREUTERS

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.

Smotrich demands Israeli soccer to stop playing during Shabbat

Chairman of Religious Zionist party, Bezalel Smotrich sent a letter to the Israeli professional football leagues demanding they stop playing during Shabat.

NOVEMBER 7, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Religious Zionist leader MK Bezalel Smotrich.

Greens back in 1st place after Maccabi Tel Aviv falls

Mac Haifa tops Ashdod, Beersheba blanks yellow-and-blue • Hap Jerusalem wins, Beitar draws

NOVEMBER 1, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Rotem Hatuel (front) celebrates after his 59th-minute goal during Hapoel Beersheba’s 2-0 victory over visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv on Monday night at Turner Stadium.

Maccabi Haifa stun Juventus in famous Champions League victory

Pair of goals from Atzili coupled with dominant defense led Greens to upset victory • third place in play with two games left

OCTOBER 12, 2022ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI HAIFA teammates celebrate after Omer Atzili's first goal in the seventh minute sent the Greens on their way to a shocking 2-0 victory over Juventus on Tuesday night in their Champions League Group H clash at Sammy Ofer Stadium