The Israel national soccer team, governed by the Israel Football Association, has a unique and storied history. Despite facing numerous challenges, the team has made several noteworthy achievements on the international stage.

History

The Israel national team was established in 1934 under the British Mandate for Palestine and initially competed as the Eretz Israel team. After the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the team began competing under its current designation. Initially, Israel was a part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), but due to political issues, it was expelled in 1974. The team spent years competing without a confederation affiliation until joining UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) in 1994.

Major Successes

• 1964 AFC Asian Cup: Israel's most significant success came when they won the AFC Asian Cup in 1964, which they hosted. This remains their only major tournament victory.
• 1970 FIFA World Cup: Israel qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first and only time in 1970, held in Mexico. They managed two draws against Sweden and Italy, and a loss to Uruguay, exiting in the group stage.
• UEFA Competitions: Since joining UEFA, Israel has not qualified for any major tournament finals but has participated in various qualifying campaigns, often finishing close to playoff spots.

Notable Players

• Yossi Benayoun: One of Israel's most capped players, Benayoun had a distinguished club career, playing for teams such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and West Ham United.
• Eyal Berkovic: A talented midfielder known for his vision and passing, Berkovic played for several clubs in the Premier League, including West Ham United and Manchester City.
• Ronny Rosenthal: A forward who was part of the Liverpool FC team that won the English First Division in 1990.
• Tal Ben Haim: A versatile defender who played in the Premier League for clubs such as Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Notable Coaches

• Emmanuel Scheffer: He led Israel to its only World Cup appearance in 1970.
• Avram Grant: Managed the national team before having a successful club management career, including a stint as Chelsea FC's manager.
• Dror Kashtan: Coached the national team during several UEFA qualifying campaigns, known for his tactical acumen.

The Israel national team continues to compete in international competitions, striving to qualify for major tournaments and improve their standing in world football.