Sports

Iranian women's soccer players 'were misled,' in Australia, Pezeshkian says in video address

Australia granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member from the Iranian squad in early March after they sought asylum over fears of possible persecution upon returning home.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iranian players gesture from the bench during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A match between South Korea and Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 2, 2026.
"Popularity does not belong only to the biggest fields, the richest leagues, or the most familiar rules."

The sports that look unusual until the crowd arrives

Some sports feel niche until you look closely. Darts, snooker, kabaddi, and others attract huge audiences because they reward tension and ritual.

|ByHANNAH SCHWARTZ
MACCABI TEL AVIV players celebrate their 3-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the State Cup semifinal at Teddy Stadium.

Maccabi Tel Aviv downs Haifa in Classico to reach State Cup final

The Israeli Classico, one of the biggest matches that the Holy Land can offer between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, is always an anticipated clash.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
VASILIJE MICIC and Hapoel Tel Aviv are headed to the Euroleague playoffs in their first season in the competition, while Maccabi Tel Aviv’s continental campaign is over.

Blueprint vs breakdown: Hapoel Tel Aviv’s plan delivers, while Maccabi pays the price

As EuroCup champs, Hapoel was given a one-year temporary license, so to speak, to the Euroleague, and anything after that was not guaranteed unless the Reds advanced to the playoffs.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Blazers ride Avdija's late heroics to play-in victory over Suns

Avdija's ability to control the game stood out as much as the scoring. Avdija shot 15-of-22 from the field, added 12 assists, and dictated the tempo throughout his 38 minutes on the court.

APRIL 15, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Israeli forward Deni Avdija drives on Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie for two of his game-high 41 points in the Blazers’ 114-110 victory

Jerusalem Marathon's full race canceled due to weather conditions

The full marathon, which spans 42.2 kilometers, was scheduled to take place on Friday amid growing excitement and demand for the event.

APRIL 15, 2026ByARIELLA ROITMAN
Thousands of runners take part in the annual marathon in Jerusalem, April 4, 2025.

Blue-and-white skates to hockey gold in Bulgaria

Israel finished the 2026 IIHF World Championship Division II Group B with a flawless 5-0 record.

APRIL 13, 2026ByITAY GODER
THE ISRAEL national team celebrates on the ice in Sofia, Bulgaria, after beating Iceland for the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship Division II Group B tournament over the weekend.

Hapoel Tel Aviv clinches Euroleague playoff berth with derby W over Maccabi in Serbia

Antonio Blakeney started to find the bottom of the basket, while Lonnie Walker responded to keep the yellow-and-blue close, but Collin Malcolm was unstoppable down the stretch as Hapoel took the win.

APRIL 13, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISH WAINRIGHT (left) and Hapoel Tel Aviv overpowered Maccabi Tel Aviv 99-88 in the displaced Euroleague derby between the clubs in Belgrade.

Hapoel Tel Aviv eyes Euroleague playoffs while Maccabi prays for spot

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Fenerbahce 95-80 as the Reds closed in on clinching a playoff spot with a record of 22-13. Meanwhile, a crucial contest awaits Maccabi as its aspirations are questioned.

APRIL 10, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV coach Oded Katash and his team's Euroleague postseason hopes are hanging by a thread, as the 51-year-old Israeli signed a three-year extension this week to remain on the yellow-and-blue sideline.

Back on track: Jerusalem Marathon returns as symbol of ‘normalcy’

The event, scheduled for April 17, reflects Jerusalem's spirit and resilience, said the city's Mayor Moshe Lion.

APRIL 10, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
THOUSANDS OF runners will pack the starting line of the Jerusalem Marathon next week, signaling a powerful return to routine in the capital.

Israeli pride: Peretz lifts Southampton over Arsenal and into Wembley spotlight

Peretz, who moved from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Bayern Munich and then to Hamburg, has made a number of spectacular saves against Arsenal's young guns, helping the Gunners reach high standings.

APRIL 10, 2026ByJOSH HALICKMAN
DANIEL PERETZ rose to the moment with a series of stunning saves vs Arsenal, carrying Southampton to a memorable FA Cup quarterfinal upset this week.

How global esports ecosystems generate multi million dollar revenue streams

APRIL 9, 2026ByHANNAH SCHWARTZ
“Esports is an example of how entertainment can evolve into a complex financial structure generating multi-million-pound revenues.”

Israel’s ‘ice orphans’: Survival, legacy, and the battle for hockey gold in Sofia

For the small, bruised, and fiercely dedicated community of Israeli hockey, this tournament is absolutely everything.

APRIL 9, 2026ByITAY GODER
Team Israel gathers on the ice at their last practice before the tournament.

Sounds of silence: Israeli sports return, but minus fans who define them

As the Israel Soccer League resumed play across the country this week, the atmosphere was eerie. It evoked the empty-stadium days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

APRIL 9, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM players celebrate a dramatic late winner at Teddy Stadium – their joy echoing through empty stands as fans cheer from afar in homes and shelters across Israel.