Israel National Under-18 Football Team

Israel's youth national team has participated in UEFA European Championship competition across multiple age-group formats. A Ynet historical account explains that the tournament was previously conducted at under-18 level and later at under-19 level. It records a 1997 appearance under coach Ze'evik Zelcer, qualification for the under-19 tournament in 2014 under Eli Ohana, and participation in the 2022 under-19 championship in Slovakia.[1]

A 2014 Ynetnews report ambiguously described the earlier Israel under-18 side as having entered a UEFA European Under-21 Championship, but supplied no date, edition, roster, or match results for that appearance.[2] The report contrasted that reference with the 2014 under-19 team's qualification for the European Under-19 Championship after a 1–0 victory over Georgia.[2]

Israel competed at the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Slovakia and finished second in its group, a result that also guaranteed the country's first qualification for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.[1] Israel then defeated France 2–1 in the semifinal to reach the European final.[1]

In the final against England, Israel took the lead but ultimately lost 3–1 after extra time, finishing as the European runner-up.[1] The campaign represented Israel's strongest finish in the competition and opened the way to its first appearance at the global under-20 tournament.

In March 2026, Ofir Haim coached Israel in the first stage of a new three-stage UEFA under-19 qualifying format on the road to the 2027 European Championship.[3][4] League A was divided into seven groups of four teams. The bottom team in each first-stage group would drop to League B, while the other three would advance to a second stage and then seek places in an elite round, whose group winners would qualify for the European Championship.[3]

Israel began with a 2–1 defeat to Austria before recovering to defeat Germany 3–1.[3] All four goals against Germany were scored from penalty kicks, with Israel converting all three of its spot kicks.[5] Adam Grimberg opened the scoring in the 15th minute, and substitute Ilay Ben Simon added penalties in the 70th and 87th minutes. Germany's Alexander Staaf replied from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.[5]

Haim fielded four players born in 2009—Grimberg, Liam Lusky, Ben Simon, and Orian Goren—against a German squad whose players were born in 2008. The German squad included players from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Manchester United.[3] Germany failed to threaten goalkeeper Eli Altman's goal during the second half.[3]

The result was described as the first victory by an Israel youth national team over Germany.[3] Haim called it one of his greatest achievements with the national team.[3]

Israel's starting lineup against Germany consisted of goalkeeper Eli Altman and outfield players Daniel Hadar, Guy Eliguashvili, Noam Steifman, Yazan Watad, Itamar Husid, Jonathan Segev, Orian Goren, Liam Lusky, Adam Grimberg, and Noam Aluk. Substitutes mentioned in the match account included Noam Levy, Leroy Abrivaya, Omri Cohen, and Ilay Ben Simon.[5]

Three days later, Israel drew 1–1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina to complete the first qualifying stage.[4] Bosnia took the lead through Said Nisic in the 11th minute, but Noam Levy equalized in the 43rd. Nisic was sent off in the 89th minute, and the draw allowed Israel to advance in second place.[4] Israel consequently continued to the following season's second qualifying stage in League A, where three teams from each group would again advance.[4]

Yazan Watad represented the under-18 side four times and developed in Maccabi Petah Tikva's youth system before signing a three-year professional contract with an option for an additional season.[6] Other younger members of the 2026 squad included Ilay Ben Simon, Adam Grimberg, Liam Lusky, and Orian Goren, all born in 2009 and selected against Germany's older 2008 cohort.[3]

The qualification earned through the 2022 European campaign led to Israel's first appearance at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. At the following year's tournament in Argentina, the same youth generation won the bronze medal and recorded a victory over Brazil.[3] The 2026 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina produced another advancement, sending the subsequent cohort into the second stage of the qualification system for the 2027 European Championship.[4]

Accounts of the team require care because the age designation has changed and is not used consistently. Ynet's historical account distinguishes the former under-18 competition from the later under-19 tournament structure.[1] A 2014 Ynetnews report anomalously associated an under-18 predecessor with a UEFA under-21 championship and provided no supporting details.[2]

Coverage of the 2026 cohort likewise varies: ONE identifies the side as Israel's under-18 team, while Ynet describes the campaign as UEFA under-19 qualifying.[5][3] The under-18 title therefore identifies the player cohort in some reports, while the formal UEFA competition is identified as an under-19 tournament.