Israel sports

Blue-and-white National Team needs accountability, not more excuses, after last loss - analysis

The question facing the IFA is no longer simply how Israel can recover from one disappointing defeat. The time for excuses is over. The time for accountability is now.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
RAN BEN SHIMON faces mounting questions over his leadership of Israel’s national team following the blue-and-white’s disappointing Nations League start.
KENNY LOFTON JR. has quickly emerged as a dominant force for Hapoel Jerusalem, showcasing the all-around ability that has made him one of the team’s most exciting new additions.

Jerusalem’s new basketball roster impresses as Lofton Jr. lives up to the hype

Jerusalem has assembled the talent, hired an experienced coach, and made its Euroleague ambitions clear. Now it must turn that potential into results.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL FANS at Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary, wave flags after the match of the blue-and-white 3-0 loss to Ireland in Nations League action.

Ireland defeats Israel 3-0 amid pre-game controversy, plenty of pressure

The small group of Irish supporters cheered on their team, while the much larger and considerably noisier group of Israeli supporters cheered on Israel.

|ByALAN SHATTER
Team of Israel during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy.

'Israel stopped caring': Irish columnist contrasts teams ahead of contentious soccer match

Ireland's players discussed the possibility of staging some form of protest before the match, but Early questioned what such a gesture would mean if they were going to take the field regardless.

|ByWALLA! SPORTS

Israel wraps up successful World Jiu-Jitsu Championships with multiple medals

Israel’s younger athletes also excelled, with Guy Torres crowned under-18 world champion in the No-Gi competition.

AUGUST 9, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ISRAELI JIU-JITSU medalist Maya Bachar celebrates her successful World Championships campaign in Abu Dhabi, where the Israel delegation won medals across multiple age groups and weight categories.

More than a transfer: Ben Lederman becomes part of Kraków’s Jewish soccer heritage

Ben Lederman, who was born in Los Angeles to Israeli expatriates of Polish-Jewish descent, is proof that, in soccer, the most improbable stories sometimes become reality.

AUGUST 3, 2026ByWOJCIECH BERGIER
BEN LEDERMAN (left) – pictured during UEFA Europa League action with Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.

Israel’s unbeaten U18 run ends against Slovenia, but World Cup hopes remain alive

Despite the defeat, coach Nadav Zilberstein’s team still has plenty to play for, as it will now battle for fifth place, with a win in its next game securing a berth at next year’s FIBA U19 World Cup.

JULY 31, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ISRAEL FORWARD David Moses follows through on a shot during the blue-and-white's 95-87 loss to Slovenia in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U18 European Championship.

Israel women’s lacrosse team reaches World Championship semifinals

The blue-and-white continued its remarkable World Championship run, defeating Australia 12-11 to reach the semifinals and remain unbeaten at the tournament.

JULY 29, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
ISRAEL WOMEN'S lacrosse team celebrates after beating Australia to advance to the World Championship semifinals in Japan.

Hapoel Jerusalem adds NBA talent and Chinese League MVP to its lineup

former NBA forward David Roddy and Chinese Basketball League MVP Kenneth “Kenny” Lofton Jr. are the clubs latest ambitious roster additions.

JULY 26, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
DAVID RODDY brings four seasons of NBA experience, physicality and versatility to Hapoel Jerusalem as the club continues to assemble an ambitious roster for the upcoming season.

A trip to the 'boy aquarium': Discovering Israel's thriving hockey scene

I’ll admit, this was the first time I’ve ever watched a sports game of any kind in my adult life, and I could not believe how much fun it was.

JULY 25, 2026BySHIR PERETS
Jerusalem's capitals and Ashdod's Dolphins played a close game, keeping us on the edge of our seats all night.

Head Coach Elyaniv Barda on Hapoel Tel Aviv's ambitions, European campaign - interview

Building a squad capable of competing in the Premier League after promotion was no simple task. Last season, Hapoel had to significantly reshape its roster, including adding eight foreign players.

JULY 23, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV'S fiery head coach Elyaniv Barda has guided the Reds from the Leumit League to European competition in just over a year and now hopes to lead the club to even greater heights.

Mac Tel Aviv claims Super Cup, Hap Tel Aviv beats Beitar

The Super Cup was presented by the League Administration Chairman Erez Kalfon, together with Eldad Maman, a Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter.

JULY 19, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV celebrates after beating Hapoel Beersheba 3-1 to capture the season-opening Super Cup.

'Strength of next generation': Israeli youth bridge teams claim three European silver medals

The achievement follows the two bronze medals recently won by Israel’s Open and Mixed Pairs teams at the European Championship for senior national teams.

JULY 17, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ISRAEL'S UNDER-16 national bridge team poses following a silver-medal finish at the European Championship in Latvia.

Israeli guard Yam Madar signs three-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv after leaving rival Hapoel

The 25-year-old point guard (1.90m), who grew up supporting Maccabi, joins the Israeli League and State Cup champion under head coach Oded Katash.

JULY 14, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Yam Madar in Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform.