FOOTBALL IN ISRAEL

80th anniversary In 2008. Around a thousand teams, ranging from young children, youth, adults, both men and women numbering a total of some 30,000 players who are registered at the IFA and take part all year round in domestic competitions (League, State Cup and Toto Cup). The Association is responsible for the organization of all League and State Cup matches, operates Disciplinary Courts, in addition to housing an independent Referees' Union, and is the driving force behind hundreds of matches each week.

The FA’s pinnacle has been the management of all the National teams - from U-16’s to the ‘A’ team both Men and Women, with intensive activity all year round. Since its inception, IFA has always been a member of FIFA, the World Football Governing body. Up until the late 1970’s, Israel played its international matches under the Asian Confederation, both at national and club levels. The Arab boycott led to the ostracizing of Israeli football from the Asian confederation relocating Israel’s World Cup and Olympic Games qualifying competition to the Oceania group. At the time, the IFA continued pursuing its efforts to join the European fold and play under UEFA’s auspices.

Those efforts were deemed successful in the early 90’s were Israel has been accepted by the European football community as a full UEFA member – a fact which sees its national teams of men, women and youth as well as its affiliated clubs play in international competitions organized by UEFA.

The integration into Europe came as a breath of fresh air to Israeli Football but together with it came the difficulties of adapting to a much higher level and requirements.

Since its inception, the Israeli team has played in 436 official games (as of November 2010). These games have resulted in 162 wins, 104 draws, and 170 losses. The team last qualified for a major tournament, the World Cup or European Championships, in 1970, when the World Cup was held in Mexico. The team also won the AFC Asian Cup held in Israel in 1964.

Israel is the only team that has played in more than two regional international competitions—Oceania,  Asia  and Europe. Although Israel belongs to Asia, political tension related to the Arab-Israeli conflict has prevented Muslim and Arab teams from playing against the Israeli national team. Since 1991, Israel has been part of the UEFA, the European soccer federation.