Israel's men's national football team has represented Israel in international football contests since 1930. The team is overseen by the Israel Football Association, the administrative body of Israeli football.
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 teams last qualified for either the World Cup or European Championships was 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 who has participated 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 Israel national team. Since 1991, Israel has been part of the UEFA, the European soccer federation.
Pre-State
In June 1928, Sir Alfred Mond, visited Mandate Palestine. Mond was a professional footballer. During his visit, he announced his willingness to fund the establishment of a national squad of 18 players who would travel to games in England, in order to play in the first league. While there had previously been a number of local teams fielded in exhibition games abroad, Mond was the first to propose establishment of a national team. He met with the heads of "Maccabi" and "HaPoel", the dominant local sports organizations. Despite the hostilities that existed then between the organizations, it was decided to implement the proposal of Richmond to establish three committees would be responsible for organizing a team.
A tournament was played between the major football clubs at the time: Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Hashmonai Jerusalem. While Hapoel Tel Aviv won the tournament without a single loss, the committee included players from the other teams in the national team. Discipline problems also arose within the group and the organizing committee feared serious discipline problems during the voyage to England. Local criticism and criticism between the two sports unions led to a request from Sir Mond to send a professional coach from England to train the club for competition in England in 1929.
Cairo 1931 games
The Football Association in Israel / Palestine was established on 14 August 1928 and was accepted as a member of FIFA a year later in 1929. The Home Association (now the Israel Football Association) wanted to send a national team to the first World Cup in Uruguay, but because of the boycott imposed by the Association English Football FIFA at the time the order was given by the British government did not allow the team to attend the World Cup.
In April 1930, the team played its first games. The squad travelled to Cairo for a series of games with Egypt. The delegation to Egypt included six Jews and Arabs - one from Nadi Riad al Arab. These players are considered the first Israeli team. The first game was held in Cairo on April 10 with a full stadium and the Egyptian team won 5–0.
First game in British Mandate
The team's first game was held in Egypt in 1934 against the Egyptian national football team, which they lost 7–1.
Israel National Football Team in the modern day
The team has not qualified for the World Cup Finals 2022, as they finished third in their group; behind Scotland and Denmark; in front of Austria, Faroe Islands and Moldova. As of December 2022, they are currently top of UEFA Nations League; League B Group 1.
21st century
After Nielsen, coach Avram Grant was appointed to the team, which failed its first tournament but later managed to improve its image and return the selected game audience. During the 2006 World Cup qualifying, Israel finished unbeaten but failed to qualify to the playoffs because of goal difference.