01In brief
Israel national under-21 football team is Israel’s national association football team for under-21 players and competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and its qualifying campaigns. Israel reached the finals in 2007, 2013 and 2023, with the 2023 team becoming the first Israeli side in the competition to reach the knockout stage and semifinals. Its semifinal berth, followed by England’s quarterfinal victory over Portugal, confirmed Israel’s return to Olympic football at the 2024 Paris Games for the first time since 1976. Israel also hosted the 2013 championship. Research on Israel’s broader youth national-team system has documented substantial participation by Arab players, although it does not isolate the under-21 squad.
02Overview
The UEFA competition adopted its under-21 designation in 1978, having previously been called the Challenge Cup and played by under-23 teams. It expanded to 16 finalists in 2021.[1] In the format used for the 2023 finals, four groups each sent two teams to the quarterfinals, followed by knockout semifinals and a final.[1]
Israel has appeared in the finals three times: 2007, 2013 and 2023.[1] The 2023 campaign produced its first knockout-stage appearance and first semifinal, and ultimately led to qualification for the Paris Olympics.[6][2]
03Origins and Tournament History
Israel’s finals history began in the Netherlands in 2007 after it defeated France 2–1 on aggregate in a playoff. Israel then lost all three group matches, falling 1–0 to the Netherlands, 1–0 to Belgium and 4–0 to Portugal.[1]
Israel qualified automatically for its second appearance as host of the 2013 tournament. UEFA selected Israel after it received eight of 13 votes in the first round of Executive Committee voting in Nyon.[3] The tournament took place from June 5 to 18, with Guy Luzon coaching Israel in Group A against England, Italy and Norway; the top two teams were to advance to the semifinals.[7]
Israel opened against Norway in Netanya and drew 2–2 after conceding an equalizer in stoppage time. Nir Biton scored a penalty and Alon Turgeman put Israel ahead 2–1, while Norway had been reduced to ten players shortly before halftime.[8]
In its second match, Israel lost 4–0 to Italy. Riccardo Saponara opened the scoring, Eyal Golasa was sent off in the 37th minute and Italy added three further goals, leaving Israel with only a theoretical chance of progressing.[9]
The final group match brought Israel its first victory in the tournament, a 1–0 win over England at Teddy Stadium. Ofir Kriaf scored in the 80th minute. Israel finished with four points but did not advance, as Italy and Norway progressed from Group A.[10]
Israel returned to the finals in 2023 after finishing second in its qualifying group behind Germany and overcoming the Republic of Ireland in a playoff. The first leg in Dublin ended 1–1 and the return match at Bloomfield Stadium remained 0–0 after extra time. Israel won the shootout 3–1, with goalkeeper Daniel Peretz saving three Irish penalties and scoring one of Israel’s kicks.[1][11]
At the finals in Georgia and Romania, Israel was drawn with Germany, England and the Czech Republic. Against defending champion Germany, Dor Turgeman scored after an Oscar Gloukh pass and Israel drew 1–1. Peretz saved two penalties, while Eden Karzev was sent off shortly before halftime.[12]
Israel secured progress with a 1–0 victory over the Czech Republic. Omri Gendelman scored in the 82nd minute from Gloukh’s cross, and England’s victory over Germany left Israel second in the group and in the knockout stage for the first time.[6]
The quarterfinal against host Georgia remained scoreless through 120 minutes. Israel won the shootout 4–3, with Peretz saving one attempt and another Georgian kick striking the post. Gil Cohen, Gendelman, Anan Khalaili and Gloukh converted Israel’s penalties, with Gloukh scoring the winner before a reported crowd of 50,000 in Tbilisi.[13][14]
The victory sent Israel to its first European Under-21 Championship semifinal. Olympic qualification was still conditional on another quarterfinal result, but England’s subsequent 1–0 victory over Portugal confirmed Israel’s berth at the 2024 Paris Games.[13][2]
Israel’s campaign ended with a 3–0 semifinal defeat to England in Batumi. England scored in the 42nd, 63rd and 90th minutes, while Israel recorded one shot on goal from 11 attempts. The Olympic berth had already been confirmed before the match.[15][16]
04Practice and Qualification
Qualification campaigns determine most places in the European Under-21 Championship, while a host nation may qualify automatically, as Israel did in 2013. Israel’s route to the 2023 finals illustrates the playoff system: after finishing second in its group, it contested a two-legged tie against Ireland that was ultimately settled by penalties.[1][11]
In the 2023 finals format, the 16 teams were divided into four groups. The top two in each group advanced to the quarterfinals, after which the competition used single-match knockout rounds.[1]
In the final match of a later qualifying campaign, Israel drew 1–1 away to Norway and finished third in its group, missing the playoff. Tai Abed scored a 70th-minute penalty, but Tobias Moi equalized in the 83rd minute; the Netherlands’ 4–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina left the Dutch second.[17]
In November 2025, Israel defeated the Netherlands 3–1 in Euro 2027 qualifying in Budapest. Muhammad Abu Rumi equalized after an early Dutch goal, Ran Binyamin scored in first-half stoppage time and substitute Yanay Distelfeld added the third in the 81st minute. Israel had collected three points from its first four fixtures before the match, and the victory temporarily lifted it to second place in Group G.[18]
05Significance and Public Profile
Arab players have participated across Israel’s youth national teams. An INSS article stated that, as of March 2019, the number of Arab players in those teams exceeded the Arab share of Israel’s general population, although it did not provide a percentage or identify the under-21 squad separately.[5]
A separate INSS analysis stated that more than one third of the senior national soccer team consisted of Israeli Arab players and that the proportion in Israel’s youth soccer team was even greater. That analysis likewise did not provide a separate under-21 figure.[4]
The 2023 run attracted attention because Israel advanced from a group containing Germany and England. After the victory over the Czech Republic, coach Guy Luzon said few realistic observers had expected Israel to progress and summarized the team’s approach by saying, “we can’t be realistic.”[19]
The campaign’s significance extended beyond the European championship. Israel’s qualification for Paris marked its third Olympic football appearance and its first since the 1976 Montreal Games, where the country had reached the quarterfinals.[20][2]
06Controversies
Israel hosted the 2013 championship amid calls by pro-Palestinian groups for other European teams to boycott the tournament. The competition nevertheless began as scheduled, with thousands attending the opening match in Netanya.[8]
An INSS discussion says Israel’s successful hosting bid is commonly perceived as having been connected to a campaign by then-Israel Football Association president Avi Luzon to improve Israel’s standing among European football association presidents. It also says Luzon’s relationship with then-UEFA president Michel Platini is considered to have contributed to the bid. This is an attributed interpretation of the hosting decision rather than a definitive account of UEFA’s reasoning.[4]
Sources
- 1Ynet, The Under-21 Euros begins: Everything you need to know about the European Under-21 Championship, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 2Ynetnews, In first since 1976, Israel's national soccer team heads to 2024 Olympic games, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 3The Jerusalem Post, Israel to host European Under-21 Championships, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 4Institute for National Security Studies, More Than a Game: Israel and Delegitimization in the Sporting Domain, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 5Institute for National Security Studies, Integrating minority players into Israel’s national football team, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 6Ynetnews, Israeli U-21 national soccer team advances to Euro quarter-finals, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 7The Jerusalem Post, Israel dealt tough European Championship draw, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 8The Times of Israel, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 9The Jerusalem Post, Israel humbled 4-0 by Italy at Bloomfield, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 10The Jerusalem Post, Israel conquers England, still knocked out, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 11The Jerusalem Post, Blue-and-white juniors and seniors both celebrate European success, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 12Walla! Sport, A giant goalkeeper. A point: Israel opened the Under-21 Euros with a 1–1 draw against Germany, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 13The Jerusalem Post, Israeli U-21 soccer team advances to European Championships semi-finals, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 14Walla! Sport, History in Tbilisi: Israel’s young national team reached the European Championship semifinals, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 15Ynet, The magical journey ends: Israel’s national under-21 team eliminated in the Under-21 Euros semifinal, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 16Jewish News Syndicate, Israel's Euro U21 run ends with 3-0 semifinal loss to England, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 17Ynet, Missed opportunity: The young national team failed to qualify for the Euro playoff, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 18The Jerusalem Post, Israel U21 stuns Netherlands 3,1 in Euro qualifier, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 19The Jerusalem Post, Israel-U21 team set to advance to final eight in Georgia, accessed on October 25, 2026.
- 20Jewish Virtual Library, Sports in Israel, accessed on October 25, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is the Israel national under-21 football team?
The Israel national under-21 football team is Israel’s national association football team for under-21 players. It competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and its qualifying campaigns, and has reached the finals in 2007, 2013 and 2023.
What did Israel achieve at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship?
Israel reached the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the first time, becoming the first Israeli side in the competition to reach the knockout stage. After drawing with Germany and advancing from its group, Israel beat the Czech Republic and defeated host Georgia on penalties in the quarterfinal. England then beat Portugal, confirming Israel’s qualification for the 2024 Paris Games.
How did Israel qualify for the 2023 under-21 finals?
Israel qualified for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship after finishing second in its group and beating the Republic of Ireland in a playoff. The first leg in Dublin ended 1–1, and the return match at Bloomfield Stadium remained 0–0 after extra time. Israel won the shootout 3–1, with goalkeeper Daniel Peretz saving three Irish penalties and scoring one of Israel’s kicks.
How did Israel perform at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship?
Israel finished third in Group A at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and did not advance to the semifinals. As tournament host, Israel drew 2–2 with Norway, lost 4–0 to Italy and then beat England 1–0, with Ofir Kriaf scoring in the 80th minute. Italy and Norway advanced from the group.
What is known about Arab players in Israel’s under-21 football team?
Research on Israel’s broader youth national-team system has documented substantial participation by Arab players, but it does not provide a separate figure for the under-21 squad. An INSS article stated that, as of March 2019, Arab players in Israel’s youth national teams exceeded the Arab share of the general population, without giving a percentage.
Why was Israel’s 2013 hosting bid considered controversial?
Israel hosted the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship amid calls by pro-Palestinian groups for other European teams to boycott it. An INSS discussion says the hosting bid is commonly perceived as having been connected to a campaign by then-Israel Football Association president Avi Luzon to improve Israel’s standing among European football association presidents, and that his relationship with then-UEFA president Michel Platini is considered to have contributed. This is an attributed interpretation, not a definitive account of UEFA’s reasoning.
When did Israel last qualify for Olympic football before the 2024 Paris Games?
Israel’s previous Olympic football appearance before the 2024 Paris Games was at the 1976 Montreal Games, where the country reached the quarterfinals. Qualification for Paris marked Israel’s third Olympic football appearance and its first since 1976.