01In brief
The Israel’s 1962 FIFA World Cup Qualification Campaign was a series of successive two-leg knockout ties played from November 1960 to November 1961, through which Israel competed for a place at the World Cup in Chile. Israel eliminated Cyprus and Ethiopia before Italy won both matches in the final tie and qualified for the tournament. The campaign included Israel's 6–1 victory over Cyprus before approximately 45,000 spectators at Ramat Gan Stadium, a result celebrated in contemporary newspaper coverage as the team's first advance to the second stage of World Cup qualifying.
02Background
Israel entered the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition with little preparation time. Manager Gyula Mándi had only three weeks to prepare the squad before the opening match against Cyprus in Nicosia on 13 November 1960.[2] Ynet describes the format as successive two-leg knockout ties, with the winner of each pairing advancing and the loser being eliminated.[1]
03Course of Events
Israel's opening tie was against Cyprus. The first leg in Nicosia on 13 November 1960 ended 1–1.[2] The return leg, played on 27 November 1960 at Ramat Gan Stadium before approximately 45,000 spectators, produced a 6–1 Israeli victory.[3] Shlomo Levi scored a hat-trick, Nahum Stelmach scored twice, and Shlomo Nahari added the other Israeli goal; Cyprus's Shailos converted a late penalty.[3] Ynet reproduces a contemporary report that likened the six goals to a satisfying meal for the crowd and said Israel had climbed, “for the first time in its history, to the second stage” of World Cup play.[1]
Israel's next opponent was Ethiopia, referred to as Abyssinia in contemporary Israeli usage.[2] Because the national stadium in Addis Ababa was not yet ready, FIFA approved an unusual arrangement under which both legs were played at Ramat Gan Stadium.[2] Israel won the first match 1–0 in March 1961 and the second 3–2 five days later, eliminating Ethiopia and advancing.[2]
Italy stood between Israel and qualification. At Ramat Gan on 15 October 1961, Israel took a 2–0 halftime lead through goals by Nahum Stelmach and Reuven (Ruby) Young.[2] Italy recovered to win 4–2, with Loiacono, José Altafini, and Mario Corso, who scored twice, completing the comeback.[2] In the return match in Turin on 4 November 1961, Italy won 6–0 and qualified for the World Cup in Chile; Israel did not reach the tournament.[2]
04Aftermath
The draw in Nicosia was the first time Israel had avoided defeat in a World Cup qualifier, and the 6–1 return was its first qualifying victory after 11 losses and one draw.[1] The Cyprus result is also described as Israel's first-ever victory in an official match; victories over Ethiopia followed before Italy ended the campaign.[3][2] Across the two Italy matches, Israel lost 10–2 on aggregate, underscoring the sharp contrast between the earlier rounds and the final tie.[2]
05Historiography
Retrospective Israeli coverage emphasizes different milestones. Ynet identifies the Cyprus result as Israel’s first World Cup qualifying victory and reproduces a celebratory report published after the match.[1] A Sport1 account describes it more broadly as the national team’s first victory in an official match.[3] In its account of the Italy tie, Sport1 also states that José Altafini’s equalizer was scored from an offside position; within the consulted sources, that disputed incident is not independently corroborated.[2]
Sources
- 1Ynet, "Six balls, seasoned with a feeling of satisfaction, satiated 45,000 spectators at Ramat Gan Stadium", accessed on October 4, 2026.
- 2Maariv, Great Italy buried the Israeli dream in 1962, accessed on October 4, 2026.
- 3Maariv, In 1960, 6:1 over Cyprus was not enough to advance, accessed on October 4, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What was Israel's 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign?
Israel's 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign was a series of successive two-leg knockout ties played from November 1960 to November 1961, through which Israel competed for a place at the World Cup in Chile. Israel eliminated Cyprus and Ethiopia before Italy won both matches in the final tie and qualified for the tournament, ending Israel's bid.
How much preparation time did Israel's manager have before the campaign began?
Manager Gyula Mándi had only three weeks to prepare the squad before the opening match against Cyprus in Nicosia on 13 November 1960.
What happened in Israel's matches against Cyprus during the 1962 World Cup qualifying campaign?
The first leg in Nicosia on 13 November 1960 ended 1–1. The return leg at Ramat Gan Stadium, played before approximately 45,000 spectators, produced a 6–1 Israeli victory. Shlomo Levi scored a hat-trick, Nahum Stelmach scored twice, and Shlomo Nahari added the other Israeli goal, while Cyprus's Shailos converted a late penalty.
Why were both legs of Israel's qualifying tie against Ethiopia played at Ramat Gan Stadium?
Because the national stadium in Addis Ababa was not yet ready, FIFA approved an unusual arrangement under which both legs were played at Ramat Gan Stadium. Israel won the first match 1–0 and the second 3–2 five days later, eliminating Ethiopia and advancing.
How did Israel's qualifying tie against Italy unfold?
At Ramat Gan on 15 October 1961, Israel took a 2–0 halftime lead through goals by Nahum Stelmach and Reuven (Ruby) Young, but Italy recovered to win 4–2. In the return match in Turin on 4 November 1961, Italy won 6–0 and qualified for the World Cup in Chile, ending Israel's campaign with a 10–2 aggregate defeat.
What milestones did Israel's victory over Cyprus represent in the country's football history?
The draw in Nicosia was the first time Israel had avoided defeat in a World Cup qualifier, and the 6–1 return victory was Israel's first qualifying win after 11 losses and one draw. A Sport1 account describes the Cyprus result more broadly as the national team's first victory in an official match of any kind.